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ROBERTS' (TOWNSBND'S) MILL. 



HISTORY of OLD 
GERMANTOWN 



WITH A DESCRIPTION OF ITS SETTLEMENT 
AND SOME ACCOUNT OF ITS IMPORTANT PER- 
SONS, BUILDINGS AND PLACES CONNECTED 
WITH ITS DEVELOPMENT 



Dr. Naaman H. Keyser C. Henry Kain 
John Palmer Garber Horace F. McCann 



HORACE F. McCANN, PUBLISHER 

GERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA 
1907 



Copy u. 



p^iBSARYofCGf4GaESS| 
Two Coaies Received s 

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1 CLASS /4 '_ AAC, «o. 
' 'COPY A. ! 



Copyright, 1907, hy Horace F. McCann. 




PREFACE 

HE importance of Pennsylvania, the keystone in the 
arch of the original thirteen colonies, is well estab- 
lished and unquestioned. But the influences ema- 
nating from the little settlement at Germantown, 
which did so much towards giving to the colony of 
Pennsylvania its prosperity and importance, is not so well 
known. It was with this thought in mind that the authors of 
the following pages about Old Germantown several years ago 
took up the task of writing its history. The purpose at that 
time was to write but a brief account of the place, giving the 
location of its interesting and important buildings in such a way 
as to make them easily found and readily identified. The task 
became a labor of love, and so much was found that is inter- 
esting and important that the work soon outgrew the original 
plan. So much remains in Germantown to point out strong 
colonial traits, and so many have been the noted events, per- 
sons, and ideas closely associated with the place, that no brief 
account could possibly do justice to its history. Moreover, the 
assistance of many of Germantowm's oldest and best citizens, 
who were deeply interested in its history, was soon cheerfully 
granted, and valuable contributions to the work have come from 
such sources. 

With the passing of each generation the difficulty of secur- 
ing reliable information on the local afi^airs of earlier days in- 
creases. Old landmarks also are rapidly disappearing within 
the swirl of our tornado-like new world progress. To work out 
and embody as complete a record as possible of this most inter- 
esting and important old settlement has been the purpose of the 
authors and the many friends who have assisted them. How 
well they have succeeded must be judged from their work. 

The work has been arranged under three general headings : 
I. The general history of Germantown. 



II. A detailed account of its buildings and of the noted per- 
sons connected with its history. 

III. Contributions, reminiscences, and articles dealing with 
special subjects. 

The special articles of this third part of the history are writ- 
ten in the main by recognized authorities on the various subjects 
of which they treat. It also contains many detailed accounts 
which could not well be embodied in either of the other two por- 
tions of the work. 

The authors gratefully acknowledge their indebtedness to 
the many kind friends who have in various ways furnished 
material aid. Our thanks are especially due to the following 
persons : 

For the loan of maps — Rev. \\"illiam Ashmead Schaeffer, 
D. D., Abraham W. Thomas, William N. Johnson, j\I. D., George 
Armstrong. 

For sketches furnished — Charles J. Wister, Edwin C. Jellett, 
Rev. Francis Heyl, Rev. William J. Hinke, D. D., Rev„ Joseph 
H. Dubbs, D. D., William H. Trueman, D. D. S.. Abraham H. 
Cassel. Romaine Keyser, Naaman K. Ployd, John R. Butcher, 
AA^illiam H. Emhardt, Sr., B. Frank Kirk, Beatrice Clayton, F. L. 
Englehart, Wilbur Biddle Conrow. 

For information furnished — Charles B. Adamson, Albanus 
C. Logan, Joseph Channon, Charles Bringhurst, Dr. George B. 
Cox, J. H. Bockius, Canby S. Tyson, Jacob Keyser, Joseph E. 
King, Charles S. Ke5'ser, ]\Iiss Sally W. Johnson, Annie S. Pro- 
vest, Ethan Allen Weaver, David C. King. 

For the loan of photographs — Francis D. P. Brunner, Jane 
R. Haines, Hannah Ann Zell, Samuel Castner, Chas. F. Jenkins. 

For sketches, and most valuable aid in looking up briefs of 
title, acknowledgment is especially due to B. Frank Harper, Esq. 

For the loan of valuable cuts we are indebted to Governor 
Edwin S. Stuart, John W. Jordan and the American Book Co. 

For valuable assistance and access to important sources of 
information we are much indebted to George Scattergood. a 
prominent member of the Friends' Meeting, at Fourth and Arch 
Streets. 



The illustrations form an important and most valuable part 
of the work. The publisher, Horace F. McCann, has had repro- 
duced for it a complete set of his priceless collection of drawings 
of scenes and buildings of Old German town, made by John Rich- 
ards, and re-drawn by Miss L. A. Jamison. To this has been 
added a large number of rare illustrations from the rich private 
collections for which so many Germantown homes are justly 
famous. Most of these illustrations have never before been pub- 
lished. 

Our investigations have convinced us of the marked influ- 
ence of our Teutonic ancestors upon the industrial, political, and 
religious life of the ^Middle Colonies — and in these colonies 
developed the best type of the true American. We owe so 
much to their ideas and efforts that a day each year might well 
be set aside to commemorate the founding of Germantown, 
which was the beginning, as it also remained the center, of 
their influence. There could be no more suitable day for this 
purpose than the anniversary of the day on which Pastorius 
states that he laid out Germantown. 



Table of Contents 



Part I 

Influences Preceding the Settlement of Germantown 
The Settlement of Germantown : 

1. The Importance of Germantown 

2. The Origin of the Settlement . 

3. The Founding of the Settlement 
The Borough of Germantown 
Occupations of the Early Inhabitants 
Religion ....... 

Schools and Schoolmasters . 

The Sprogell Trouble .... 

Interesting Events .... 

Growth and Development 
Manners and Customs 



9-20 



21 


-24 


24 


-28 


28 


-43 


44-51 


52 


-70 


71 


-76 


77-92 


• 93- 


100 


lOI- 


109 


. IIO- 


117 


118- 


129 



Part II 

Detailed History of Properties and Streets, beginning 
at "Stenton" and continuing from \^^ayne Junction 
alone the Main Street to Chelten Avenue . . 130-371 



Part III 

The Old Roberts Mill . . . • • • • 375-377 

The Town of I\Ianheim 378-380 

The Early History of the German Reformed Church 

at Germantown .....•• 381-402 
The Death and Burial of General Agnew and Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Bird 403-407 

The "Cross Streets" of Germantown .... 408-413 

The First Protest Against Slavery 414-420 

School House Lane 4^1 

Carlton 422-426 

Sower's Newspaper 427-437 

The Germantown Library Company .... 438-439 

Hat Making 440-442 

Francis Daniel Pastorius 443-44^ 

Friends' Preparative Meeting 447-449 

Biographical Sketch of Major Philip R. Freas . . 450-453 



List of Illustrations 



Roberts' (Townsend's) Mill Frontispiece 

William of Orange 14 

Birthplace of David Rittenhouse 22 

Roberts' (Townsend's) Mill 23 

Seventeentli Century Ship 29 

Rotterdam Port 30 

Cave Dwelling 31 

Fac-simile of deed 35 

Town Hall 51 

Germantown Seal 54 

Bullet-riddled fence 56 

Fac-simile of letter of Pastorius to his son Henry 59 

Stenton 61 

Title page of Saur's Almanac 62 

Portrait of David Rittenhouse 65 

Thomas Godfrey's sun dial 67 



Gilbert Stuart 



68 



Charles Willson Peale 69 

Mennonite Church ''^l 

Mennonite Communion Table '''2 

Dunker Church and Sexton's house '''3 

Germantown Academy • 81 

Call to Arms 83 

Old Poor House 86 

Elwood ( Armitage ) School 88 

Fire Engine— "Shag Rag" 102 

Burying Ground of the Logans at Stenton 105 

Battlefield of Germantown 107 

Old Conestoga team Ill 

Mail Stage advertisement 114 

Old Ironsides 115 

Dutch doorway of Johnson House 119 

Spinning 121 

Stenton, General appearance of 137 

Details of 141 

Roberts Mansion at Wayne Junction 147 

Naglee House 149 

Loudoun 151 

Toland House 158 

Inscription on window pane of 159 

Mehl and Lorain Houses 160 

Mechlin-Wagner House 163 

Inscription on window pane of Ottinger house 163 

Dedier House 165 

Wachsmuth-Henry House 167 

Entrance to Hood Cemetery 171 

View of Lower Burying Ground (Hood's Cemetery) 173 

John Richards 177 



Page 

Jacob Ployd 180 

Philomathean Hall 1§2 

Edward Royal House 183 

Duy's House and George Royal's House 184 

Fleckenstein's 185 

Frederick Fleckenstein y 186 

"Freddie" Fleckenstein's shop 1 187 

General Wayne Hotel and Sommers' carriage shop 190 

Captain John Waterhouse 191 

View at Manheim and Main Streets ., 193 

White Cottage 196 

Residence of Commodore Barron 201 

Lesher's Tavern 203 

" building in rear of ; 204 

Roebuck Inn 205 

Henry Squires' Drug Store and Bockius House 208 

Barracks on Collom Street 210 

"Corvy" — Wm. Wynne Wister's residence 211 

Ruins of Stuart's Studio 212 

First building of St. Stephen's M. E. Church 216 

Rev. Newton • Heston 218 

Conyngham and Howell (Hacker) Houses 220 

Inscription on window pane of Howell House 221 

Christopher John Jungkurth's House 222 

Christopher John Jungkurth 223 

Joseph Handsberry 227 

Plan showing division of lot No. 5 228 

Handsberry (Endt) House, Bechtel House, Van Lauchet House, 

Indian Qneen Inn 231 

Title pages of Bechtel's Catechism 234, 235 

Call for Meeting to organize Moravian School 237 

Bringhurst's "Big" House 241 

Provest Houses 243 

Naaman Keyser's Store 246 

Naaman Keyser 247 

Residence of Christopher Sower 249 

Trinity Lutheran Church 256 

Wister Homestead and Fry House 259 

Charles J. Wister, Senior 260 

Charles J. Wister, Junior 261 

Home of John Panning Watson 269 

Shoemaker House 274 

Shoemaker's First Farm, (Rock House) 277 

Site of East Coulter Street 282 

Circular saw used by Bockius 284 

Charles Spencer 285 

House of Christopher Bockius 286 

James S. Jones 287 

St. Luke's Church 288, 289 

Friends' Meeting House on Coulter Street 295 

Friends' Library 297 

William Kite 299 

Osier House and Mullen (Harmer) House 300 

Deshler-Morris House 305 

John Ashmead House , , , 309 



Page 

Count Zinzendorff ^^^ 

Choir Angels 

Old Bell ^J^g 

Weathercock . 

Old Market House, Market Square ^^-^ 

Corners of Germantown Avenue and School House Lane as they ap- ^ 

peared in 1852 ^ 

Soldiers' Monument, Market Square -^f^' 

De La Plaine's House • ^^ 

Northwest corner of School House Lane and Germantown Avenue oo6 

So-called Indian Head in wall at 5506 Germantown Avenue 341 

Old Sign of King of Prussia Hotel f^i 

Fireplace in basement of King of Prussia Hotel f'^' 

Christian Lehman House ,/ 

Harriet Livermore ^'.^ 

**TllG PiiiGs" 

Ancient view of Main Street looking south from Armat Street 3o9 

House of Wyndham H. Stokes ^^^ 

Site of Walker Hall ^^ 

Rev. Charles Karsner, M. D f" 

Southeast Corner of Germantown and Chelten Avenues ^bb 

Captain Francis Acuff f^^ 

Barr or Kurtz House ^°^ 

Spencer Roberts ^ 

Rev. Michael Schlatter ^nt 

Rev. Albert Helffenstein, Jr., ^UZ 

Rev. Jacob Helffenstein ^nl 

Eastern end of DeBenneville Graveyard as it was in 1904 404 

Northeast corner of DeBenneville Graveyard 406 

Fac-simile of Grant to hold Market on Cross Street 410 

Fac-simile of First Protest against Slavery 416, 417 

Advertisement from old Philadelphia Newspaper 419 

422 
Carlton „ 

Inscription on window pane ^-^^ 

Tablet in wall ^^* 

Tenement Houses 4-5 

Friends' Meeting House (Hicksite), School House Lane 448 

Major Philip R. Freas "^^^ 



PART I 

General History of Germantown 

by 
JOHN PALMER GARBER 



CHAPTER I 



INFLUENCES PRECEDING THE SETTLEMENT OF 
GERMANTOWN 

It is easy to attach undue importance to an historical event 
when it is removed from its setting and considered apart from 
its causes and effects. On the other hand, we often stand 
amazed at the train of consequences of some seemingly in- 
significant event : the balancing of a magnetized needle upon 
a steel point makes the boundaries of the known world grow 
suddenly larger; a new combination of sulphur, saltpeter, and 
charcoal requires the political history of the world to be writ- 
ten anew ; letter forms are carved upon movable wooden 
blocks and mankind advances a thousand years in wisdom. But 
the causes leading to such events are usually important and the 
preparation of favorable conditions for their reception may have 
begun centuries before. At least this is true of the settlement 
of Germantown. This little colony of some thirty persons in 
itself seems scarcely worthy of notice. But the influences at 
work in the preparation of its colonists for their settlement had 
their beginnings far back in the first pages of European history, 
and embrace in their train many of the ideas and ideals that had 
such an important bearing upon most of the significant events 
in the foundation and establishment of our nation. Born under 
the shadows of a struggle for human freedom such as the world 
had never before witnessed, and with a sense of individual worth 
and responsibility which had been the development of the cen- 
turies, they came to Pennsvlvania as the divinely opened land 
where they might establish homes and build up a communit}' 
more in accordance with their free and enlightened spirits. They 
were skilled artisans of the highest type, and in energy, fru- 
gality, intelligence, and strong religious feeling, were well fitted 
to establish the train of influences which contributed so much 
to the material and spiritual welfare of their adopted common- 



10 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

wealth and country. Nor is this magnifying the importance of 
this Httle settlement or making unwarranted assumptions m its 
behalf, for its origin and influence are marked and characteristic. 
To understand this it is necessary to trace the development of 
the Germanic tribes of the north Rhine Valley from the time of 
the Roman invasion to the rise of a United Netherlands, and 
then to follow the little band of Dutch settlers as they led the 
way to the New World and there established, by their industry 
and ideals, new methods of prosperity and enlightened influence. 
As the Romans extended their invasions towards the north, 
they met with unexpected and unusual resistance from the Teu- 
tonic tribes. Fearless, war-like, energetic, and possessing great 
moral vigor, these tribes for some time successfully opposed the 
Roman legions. The bravest of these tribes, the Batavians, 
turned from their successful contest with the German Ocean to 
battle with these new foes. It was the custom of their young 
men either not to cut their hair or to wear shackles around their 
necks until they had slain an enemy. Cowardice was the only 
crime that they punished by death. In common with other 
Teutons, they were purer in morals and less superstitious than 
the Gallic tribes living near them. The importance and influ- 
ence of the family were also stronger and the power of priestcraft 
less arbitrary than among the Gauls. Although they recognized 
hereditary sovereignty to the extent of choosing their princes 
from among the nobility, their rulers were little more than war 
chiefs who were obliged to submit all important questions to 
their subjects who, drawn up in line of battle, signified their 
assent by striking upon their shields with their spears. This was 
a noisy assertion of the principle of individual liberty, which 
from the earliest times was the heritage of the German warrior 
and which led him to exercise the right of choosing the ruler to 
whom he gave allegiance in return for support and protection. 
Many of these fearless war-men jQund?^€ir way Into the Roman 
ranks, where they rec^ved a training which in later days 
enabled them to overthrow the Roman power and to seize upon 
the fruits of the civilization of the fallen empire. But these they 
did not understand and used as mere toys. Moreover, while they 
recognized the justice of the details of Roman law and adopted 
some of its ceremonial, the Latin idea that the king was the 
source of all law was repugnant to tribes among whom all 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN ii 

authority was vested in the assemblage of the people. Hence, 
with the fall of Rome, its civilizing influences rapidly died out 
and darkness began to set in. This grew more complete as wicked 
leaders gathered about them forces to rob the husbandmen of 
the fruits of their labors and to oppress their weaker neighbors 
in defiance of all law and justice. Even the Church sufifered 
during this dark period and came, if possible, to greater degra- 
dation than the civil authority. Many of the clergy were unable 
to read and write, and they probably rendered their best service in 
establishing monasteries which served as places of refuge for 
the oppressed. To many of these they gave clerkships and thus 
formed bonds of union between the church and the common 
people. These monasteries were often founded on waste land 
which the monks brought into a high state of cultivation by their 
own labors, thus giving a dignity and importance to agriculture 
in the German countries which it has never lost. 

Charlemagne efifected a temporary stay in the general 
demoralization of the times by his endeavor to found a great 
Frankish empire. He restored order, did what he could to put 
the Church on a higher plane, opened schools, and secured a 
grammar of the German tongue. But the influence of these 
reforms was largely lost after the death of this strong-handed 
ruler, and night again began to settle down upon Europe. It 
would have become complete but for the embers of liberty 
left as a result of the wise orders of Charlemagne to his gov- 
ernors not to interfere with local laws and customs in the 
different parts of his empire. Local pride was thus preserved 
and the entire crushing out of the German spirit of independence 
was prevented. The Franks Avere too few in number to absorb 
their subject races as the Normans did in England, and local 
patriotism, which survives many disasters, again began to 
develop. The spirit of individual liberty also soon began to 
assert itself anew. And now arose Feudalism, as a complete 
triumph of the German practice whereby a man could exchange 
his allegiance for protection and other benefits, without sacri- 
ficing his dignity or imperiling his liberty. Those who were 
tmable to protect themselves from the robber-barons could now 
place their possessions in the hands of leaders amply able to 
protect them, and from whom they could receive them again as 
fiefs. The free life of the castle broke down many of the barriers 



12 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

of rank ; the common dangers and common interests of the camp 
drew lord and vassal into a closer union and greatly fostered 
the vassal's sense of personal worth. 

About this time the influence of commerce began to be felt 
in the German states and especially in the Dutch provinces 
along the North Sea. Located as they were almost in the center 
of Europe, and yet on a great arm of the ocean, they enjoyed 
peculiar facilities for commerce. Nor were material products 
the only articles they exchanged in their trade with other lands. 
With their increase in knowledge and the coming in of new 
ideas, manufactures and other industries sprang up and resulted 
in a great increase in the wealth and importance of the indus- 
trial classes. Now occurred the Crusades, and, during the 
absence of the nobility, the kings, who had come to be little 
more than nominal rulers because of the feudal barons, were 
able to strengthen their position. But to do so they were 
obliged to borrow money from the artisans and tradesmen, who 
in return received chartered privileges for their guilds and for 
their cities. Under these charters arose the free burgher classes 
and the free cities, while the guilds served to further the cause 
of freedom by their free discussion and their promulgation of 
church and state policy.With increased prosperity the condition 
of the serfs was also greatly improved. 

There were now three classes of people in the European 
countries — the clergy, the nobility, and the common people ; and 
there were three forces at work in society — religion, war. and 
gold. The clergy and the nobility still remained the dominant 
powers, but in Germany and the Netherlands they could not 
unite their forces, and the common people, through the products 
of their industry, made rapid strides in power and influence. In 
England, on the contrary, clergy and nobility joined hands and 
secured from King John the great charter of liberty. But Eng- 
lish respect for hereditary rights of dominion were unafi^ected by 
the Magna Charta, and it only remained to be settled what great 
house should rule. This was decided on Bosworth Field, in 
1485, in favor of the Tudors. The latter half of the fifteenth 
century saw the rise of strong kingdoms also in Spain, France, 
and Austria. Only Germany remained under the feudal condi- 
tions of the Middle Ages. 

A most potent influence in the cause of freedom had by this 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 13 

time appeared. This was the art of printing. Both the Dutch 
and the Germans claim the credit of its invention, but in either 
case no more favorable soil for its development could be 
imagined than these countries along the Rhine. More prosper- 
ous and intelligent than their neighbors, of a strong religious 
tendency, and with the traditions of personal freedom as a com- 
mon heritage, the Rhine countries were peculiarly ready for this 
great medium of interchange of thought. The movements of 
their soldiery were free, and the people stood near to the sources 
of law, owing to the large number of small municipalities. More- 
over, superstition and sorcery were very prevalent in these days 
and, where governments were strong, men of advanced ideas 
were in danger of the prison — the}^ were even in danger of the 
stake, at which so many who dared to think diflerently from the 
accepted views of the church and the state perished ; Germany, 
the Netherlands, and Switzerland, with their small and independ- 
ent governments, became places of refuge for scholars and men 
with thoughts in advance of their times. Erasmus in the Nether- 
lands and Zuinglius in Switzerland soon advanced ideas that 
prepared the way for the Reformation and a curtailment of the 
power of the thoroughly organized despotism into which the 
church of Rome had developed. The art of printing had paved 
the way for independent investigation of the Scriptures : for a 
Bible, which in manuscript form cost five hundred crowns, 
could be printed for five crowns. The night of superstition was 
soon pierced by the rays of the coming morning; the newly 
awakened sense of individual responsibility to God aroused its 
twin brother, the sense of the worth of the individual soul inde- 
pendently of the accidents of birth. There were thus two new 
champions in the arena for the cause of rights divine as opposed 
to Divine rights. Luther now made his famous pilgrimage to 
Rome, and came back determined upon measures of reform 
which would make the leaders of the Church, and their teachings 
and practices, more like those- of Christ and His Apostles. The 
Church, alarmed, rallied its forces at the Council of Trent and 
started a new order, that of the Jesuits, whose followers had 
avowedly but one object in life, that of furthering the interests 
of the Church. To this they devoted their fortunes, their entire 
thought, and when necessary their lives ; but the order was a 
deadly foe to independent thought and action, and hence to the 



14 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAN TOWN 



cause of freedom both civil and religious, for it aimed at temporal 
as well as spiritual power. Philip II. of Spain, who had come 
into hereditary possession of the low countries on the North Sea, 
was an ardent Catholic, and he at once determined to stamp out 
the various "new reprobate and damnable sects" that had arisen 




■*v,^ 




WILLIAM OF ORANGE 



in these possessions as a result of the Reformation. The Nether- 
landers had gotten their new religious ideas by the way of 
Protestant France which was dominated by Calvinistic rather 
than by Lutheran thought. Calvin had gone to Geneva, and, 
carrying out to their logical conclusion Luther's ideas of the 
right to free investigation of the Scriptures and of salvation by 
faith, had announced the doctrines of predestination and the right 
to independence in religious thought and practice. These ideas 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AX TOWN 15 

were fatal to a general church organization and government, and 
fostered the greatest freedom in what has always been the most 
potent factor in ruling men's thought and practice, religious 
belief. Philip remained on friendly terms with the German 
princes, upon whom he had to depend for many of his troops, 
and thus gave apparent tolerance to Lutheranism ; but he was 
very bitter against the new religion in the Netherlands and 
issued the most stringent orders to the Duke of Alva and his 
"Council of Blood" to root it out. This was the beginning of a 
bitter religious war ; and the world looked on aghast, for nine 
long years, as William of Orange and a few free cities waged 
unequal contest with the "Master of two worlds." But they 
were animated by the spirit of their early Batavian and Frisian 
ancestors ; they were determined to free themselves from their 
shackles and to assert their right to the free spirit which had 
made them masters of the ocean, as well as of the land which 
they had through long years of toil rescued from it. Convinced 
at last that Philip was determined to rule them from his Spanish 
capital with a rod of iron, they, in 1579, in the Union of Utrecht, 
gave up the thought of hereditary allegiance to him and laid 
the foundations of the Netherland Republic. This was the 
"Republic which lasted two centuries, which threw a girdle of 
rich dependencies entirely around the globe, and which attained 
so remarkable a height of commercial prosperitv and political 
influence." The most important provisions of the twenty-six 
articles of the Union of Utrecht were : it provided for the per- 
petual union of the provinces into a state which, while single 
towards the rest of the world, yet maintained the local sovereignty 
and local institutions of each ; absolute freedom in religious 
affairs; a common currency; voting by states in the general 
assembly ; and provision for additions and amendments to the 
articles of union. AA'hile this union was a mere compact and 
not a constitutional republic, and afforded less power to the 
general assembly than the old Achaian League, it was a closer 
and more effective union than the Swiss Confederacy, which 
joined independent cantons for external purposes only. Besides, 
it presented in its provisions for additions and amendments the 
new idea of a government adaptable to the changing needs of a 
people. The evolutionary stage in political control had noAv 
been reached and proclaimed to the world. Two years later, on 



i6 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

the 26th day of July, 1581, the United Provinces, assembled at 
the Hague, in an Act of Abjuration solemnly declared themselves 
free from Philip's rule. This was their famous Declaration of 
Independence, the prototype of our own announcement of sepa- 
ration from Great Britain. In it they enumerated, for the infor- 
mation of the world, the wrongs they had for many years suffered 
under Spanish rule, and clearly set forth the idea that all gov- 
ernment worthy the name must be for the benefit of the governed. 
" 'Tis well known to all," it said, "that if a prince is appointed 
by God over the land, 'tis to protect them from harm, even as 
a shepherd to the guardianship of his flock. The subjects are 
not appointed by God for the behoof of the prince, but the 
prince for his subjects, without whom he is no prince. Should 
he violate the laws, he is to be forsaken by his meanest subject, 
and to be recognizexl no longer as prince." They had already 
worked out the ideas : that the citizen should be protected against 
arbitrary imprisonment and was entitled to trial in his own 
province; that the property of the citizen was subject to taxation 
only by the body in which he had a representation ; that foreign- 
ers had no right to high office in the state ; that the state had no 
dominion over a man's conscience ; and, though still speaking 
of the Divine right of kings, it was quite evident that they 
believed the people had divine rights which were paramount. 

These were the people and these were the influences which 
so profoundly affected civil and religious thought in these early 
days of European history. Better and more generally educated 
than other nations, energetic and prosperous, and actuated by 
an earnest religious feeling and a strong sense of personal 
responsibility and worth, "To no people in the world more than 
to the stout burghers of Flanders and Holland belongs the honor 
of having battled audaciously and perennially in behalf of human 
rights." Their influence upon the more southern Rhine pro- 
vinces and upon the free Swiss was direct and powerful because 
of the free intercourse with them and because persecution drove 
some of the best families of each up and down the Rhine for 
many years. This persecution strengthened the natural ties of 
brotherhood existing between the Dutch and the German inhab- 
itants of the Rhine Valley and served more and more to harmon- 
ize their characteristic traits. The debt of England to these 
people is both industrial and spiritual ; for, while church and 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN ly 

state were so closely united in England during the reign of 
Henry VIII. that religious tolerance there was delayed for 
centuries, her dissenting and persecuted Puritans not only found 
a welcome in Holland, but also imbibed many of its advanced 
ideas of government. Besides, the exodus of artisans and com- 
mercial houses from the Netherlands to England, during the Dutch 
Inquisition and the war with Spain, introduced that country to 
the industrial and commercial life which has been the source of 
so much of its greatness. Our own political debt to them is so 
evident in our Declaration of Independence and in our Constitu- 
tion, that we cannot help feeling that our Revolutionary 
ancestors regarded the little Dutch nation as worthy of all pos- 
sible imitation; our industrial' debt is seen in the marvelous 
prosperity which we enjoy through our inheritance from them 
of mechanical skill and esteem for agriculture, sources of wealth 
which have moved the money center of the world from London 
to New York ; our spiritual debt comes not only from the 
general intelligence and absolute freedom in thought and con- 
science for which they so ably led the way but, even more, from 
the reverence for Divine things which they have transmitted 
to us, and which has been with us as a strong undercurrent of 
faith in our darkest hours as a nation. 

Speaking of the debt which America owes to Holland, a 
recent writer^ says that, if it were duly recognized. "American 
history would occupy a different position from that usually 
accorded to it. Instead of standing alone as a phenomenon, to 
be studied by itself, or as a continuation of the record of English- 
men, and to be studied on narrow insular lines, it would fill a 
much broader field, reaching back to Continental Europe, linking 
itself to the old civilzation of the Romans, and forming more 
distinctly a part of that modern history which has been said to 
begin with the call of Abraham." 

This same writer continues, "The armed contest (between 
liberty and kingly power) began in Holland, and lasted there for 
eighty years before it was transferred to England. In its earlv 
days, nearly a hundred thousand Netherlanders, driven from 
their homes b_v persecution, found an asylum on British soil." 
Also, "the Englishmen, very many thousands in number, who 
found a temporary home in Holland (during the persecutions of 
iDoug-lass Campbell. 



i8 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

the Non-Conformists and Puritans), were the most active and 
enterprising of their race. They went from a monarchy, where 
the power of the crown over many questions of Church and 
State was unhmited, to a repubhc, where the people for centuries 
had been accustomed to self-rule. They went from a land 
where, from natural causes, material and intellectual progress 
had been much retarded to one which, in almost every depart- 
ment of human endeavor, was then the instructor of the world. 
That they must have learned much, apart from the art of war, 
and that they must have communicated much to England, seems 
apparent at a glance to any one conversant with the situation." 

The influence of Holland upon England received a check 
upon the restoration of the Stuarts. But in America there was 
nothing to cause even a temporary disappearance of Dutch lead- 
ership and example. "The Pilgrims who settled in Plymouth 
had lived twelve years in Holland. The Puritans who settled 
Massachusetts had all their lives been exposed to a Netherland 
influence, and some of their leaders had also lived in Holland. 
Thomas Hooker, coming from Holland, gave life to Connecticut, 
which has been called the typical American commonwealth. 
Roger Williams, who founded Rhode Island, was so much of a 
Dutch scholar that he read Dutch books to the poet IMilton. 
Penn, who founded Pennsylvania, was half a Dutchman. New 
York and New Jersey were settled by the Dutch West India 
Company. "- 

The Dutch Republic was the culmination of the great con- 
tinental movement of the sixteenth century which intellectually 
and spiritually has revolutionized the world ; and it became a 
great center of power and influence — the power and influence of 
"a republic the leader of the world by at least a century in agri- 
culture, commerce, and manufactures, and by more than two 
centuries in all ideas relating to civil and religious liberty." 

It would be difficult to conceive a people better prepared 
to become good settlers or more likely to work out great prob- 



2Dou2:lass CampbeU in the Preface to "The Puritan in HoUand, F;ns'land 
and America." Taine in his "Art in the Netherlands" emphasizes this \-iew 
in speaking of the Dutch at the beginning' of the seventeenth century. 
He says: "InternaUy their government is as good as their external position 
is exalted. For the first time in the world, conscience is free and the 
rights of the citizens are respected. In culture and instruction, as ^vell 
as in the arts of organization and government, the Dutch are two centuries 
ahead of the rest of Europe." It should be remembered that when the 
colonies were first settled the Netherlands had a population about equal 
to that of England and that its people were incomparably wealthier. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AX TOWN 19 

lems for the prosperity and enlightenment of the world, than 
were our Dutch and German ancestors. And, though German- 
town had but a small beginning, it was the opened door through 
which poured the great stream of immigration resulting from 
the Thirty Years' War and the cruel incursions of Louis XIV. 
Besides, these first comers into Germantown were mighty men 
of deeds, born commonwealth builders, each of them a center of 
influence for the spread of ideas which, while centuries in form- 
ing, had now been transplanted to a virgin soil, — soil free from 
the pollutions and dangers of an effete civilization, where these 
ideas were destined rapidly to bear fruit in the cause of humanity. 

These settlers were, however, not the first of their own people 
to turn their faces towards the New World ; for, according to 
Henninghausen, fifty-four German families had accompanied 
Governor Printz, himself a Holsteiner, to the Swedish settlement 
on the Delaware, in 1643. Rupp says Heinrich Frev came over 
two years before Penn, and that Jtirian Hartsfelder took up 
three hundred and fifty acres of land in what is now Philadelphia 
as early as 1676. Watson claims that one named Warner was 
at W^illow Grove in 1658, and Doctor Julius F. Sachse has un- 
earthed a letter which indicates that there was a German congre- 
gation worshiping near Germantown before the arrival of 
Pastorius. 

In his report to the Frankfort Company, dated Philadelphia, 
March 7, 1684. Pastorius refers to previous settlements as fol- 
lows : "About these newly-engrafted foreigners, I will make no 
further mention now. than that among them sundry High Ger- 
mans are found, who have already been settled in this country 
for twenty years, and thus have, as it were, naturalized them- 
selves, namely: Silesians. P)randenburgers, Holsteiners, Sweit- 
zers, etc. Also a Nurenberger, by the name of Jan Jaquet."^ 

Plockhoy had also years before turned to the New World 
as the choice spot on which to work out in a practical way his 
ideas of the social equality and brotherhood of man. 

But the little settlement at Germantown was the first per- 
manent German, or indeed American, colony organized and 
established independently of governmental or commercial patron- 



3As the Jaquets settled in the vicinity of New Castle, Del., Pastorius 
evidently was speaking' of the entire German population on the Delaware, 
including' the settlements at Tinicum and New Castle. 



20 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

age ;* and the freedom of thought and practice fostered by this 
untrammeled condition, combined with the exceptional freedom 
of its settlers from the dominion of established customs and 
ideals, has given it a history which in many respects is unique. 
Nor did the proprietor of the province interfere with the fulfill- 
ment of their plans. Penn valued these industrious, God-fearing 
settlers so highly, and was so confident of the integrity of their 
purposes, that he at once granted them a separate court and 
almost absolute self-government. These privileges were never 
abused by them. Indeed, so potent were the influences of familv 
and church life, and of the Bible in every home, that little govern- 
ment was needed ; and Germantown soon presented the vui- 
usual spectacle of a community so prosperous and law-abiding 
that it could not get men to willingly step aside from their busy 
lives long enough to fill the offices necessary to carry on this 
government. 



4Massachusetts M^as settled iinder an agreement with the London 
Companj' and under the direct influence of the Massachusetts Bay Com- 
pany, both of which had royal charters. The settlements in Rhode Island 
and Connecticut were migrrations from Massachusetts. All of these colonists 
"were subject to the influence of royal charters and of persons who stood 
near to royalty; and all were for many years more or less loyal to the 
accepted Eng-lish ideas. See "The Emancipation of Massachusetts," by 
Brooks Adams. 

The German settlements in New York and New Jersey were made 
under the direct patronage of the Dutch West India Company, the rich 
patroons of the former holding- a dominating' influence long- after they came 
under English rule. 



CHAPTER II 



THE SETTLEMENT OF GERMANTOWN 

I. The Importance of Germantown 

The history of Germantown is probably without a parallel 
in the annals of our country. It was settled less than a year 
after Penn's arrival in Philadelphia ; and yet, after more than a 
century of growth and development, it remained a straggling vil- 
lage of a few hundred inhabitants, most of them still German in 
language and characteristics, and it had but few paved side- 
walks and no better communication with the main city, which 
was but a few miles away, than an old rattling four-horse stage- 
coach. But it was Francis Daniel Pastorius and three other 
Germantown settlers who sent to the Monthly Meeting of 
Friends, at Richard AA'orrell's in 1688, the first public protest 
ever made against slavery ; this same Pastorius wrote the first 
school-book originating in America ; another of its noted citizens, 
Christopher Saur, became, through his press at Germantown, 
the great German leader of the province of Pennsylvania, a fear- 
less exponent and critic of wrongs and abuses for all of the 
colonies, and the founder of the oldest existing publishing house 
in America, publishing not only a large number of early text- 
books and religious works, but also a German edition of the 
Bible thirty-nine years before the first English edition printed in 
America appeared; Christopher Dock, of Germantown, wrote 
the first work on general pedagogy published in America, as well 
as our first treatise on etiquette, both of them being issues of 
Saur's press ; it was in Germantown that William Rittenhouse, 
in 1690, erected on a small branch of the Wissahickon the first 
paper-mill in America: his grandson. David Rittenhouse, was 
born here in 1732, and became one of the greatest astronomers 
and mathematicians of his time — besides being a statesman of 



22 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAN TOWN 



no low rank ; an important battle of the Revolution was fought 
in Germantown ; while the yellow-fever was epidemic in Phila- 
delphia, in 1793, Germantown was practically the seat of national 
government, the various departments with their officials and 
the Chief Executive, George Washington, having temporarily 
removed there ; it was also during the same period the capital 
of the State, Governor Mifflin and the Secretary of the Common- 
wealth transacting the state business at that place ; the first mill 
for grist in the county of Philadelphia was erected near German- 







BIRTHPLACE OF DAVID RITTENHOUSE 



town by Richard Townsend, in 1683, — it was known later as 
Roberts' Mill and was back on Church Lane ; Thomas Rutter, a 
smith living near Germantown, built the first forge in the Pro- 
vince ; the people of Germantown introduced the manufacture 
of "very fine German Linen such as no Person of Quality need 
be ashamed to wear" ; they also early became noted for the 
tanning of leather, for the manufacture and improvement of 
wagons, and for fine woolen yarns and excellent hosiery. None 
of our early settlements have better preserved their ancient 
buildings and landmarks, few have so lovingly clung to their 
historic relics or so faithfully cherished their family traditions. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



23 



This is partly due to the prosperity which so soon settled down 
among the thrifty villagers and made few changes compulsory, 
and partly to the origin of the settlement and to the home- 
loving propensities of the settlers. 

Germantown was the beginning of a German immigration 
which, from 1683 to 1776, had Pennsylvania as its central point. 
It reached such vast proportions as to seriously alarm the 
German governments, which tried in vain to stop it. It also 
led Governor Keith, in 1717, to call the attention of his Council 
to the "great number of foreigners from Germany Strangers 




•~-^-r^( 



1^ 1. -^A^T^'" 



ROBERTS' (TOWNSEND'S) MILL 



to our Language and Constitution, having lately been Imported 
into this Province daily dispersed themselves Immediately after 
their Landing without producing Certificates from whence they 
came or what they were," and that "this Practice might be of 
very dangerous Consecjuence." The subject was duly consid- 
ered by the Council and it was ordered "that the Naval officer 
of this Port be required not to admit any Inward bound Vessell 
to an Entry, untill the master shall first give an exact List of 
all their Passengers Imported by them." This was supple- 
mented, September 14, 1727, by the following: "Tis Ordered, 
that the Masters of the Vessells importing them shall be 
examined whether they have any Leave granted them by the 



24 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 

Court of Britain for the Importation of these Foreigners, and 
that a List shall be taken of the names of all these People, their 
several Occupations and the Places from whence they came, 
and shall be further examined touching their Intentions in 
coming hither; and further, that a Writing be drawn up for 
them to sign declaring their Allegiance and Subjection to the 
King of Great Britain and Fidelity to the Proprietary of the 
Province, and that they will demean themselves peaceably 
towards all His Majesties Subjects, and strictly observe and 
conform to the Laws of England and of this government." 
While these measures failed to check the tide of immigration, 
the records made necessary because of them have saved to us 
the names of upwards of thirty thousand of these immigrants.^ 

2. The Origin of the Settlement 

The well-watered, fertile soil of Pennsylvania, together with 
the civil and religious liberty guaranteed to all by its proprietor, 
called from the palatinates of the Rhine Valley so many of its 
inhabitants that all German settlers came to be called "Pala- 
tines." Continental conditions favored this emigration. Ger- 
many had been devastated by the Thirty Years' War, which 
ended with the treaty of Westphalia, in 1648, and the rulers who 
followed in its wake soon destroyed the hopes of the people 
for the fruits of peace. The peasants had been reduced almost 
to serfdom, the rulers were either too evil or too helpless to 
remedy their condition, and the Church was so demoralized as 
to ofifer no consolation. 

To add to their distress, Louis XIV. of France, angry at the 
great number of Huguenots who fled to "the Palatinate" after 
the revocation, in 1685, of ^^'^^^ greafcharter of Protestant rights," 
the edict of Nantes, took advantage of the helpless condition 
of Germany and began a war of conquest in which he laid Avaste 
the Rhine Valley. "Even to the present day, after the lapse of 
two centuries, the line of march may be traced from the Drachen- 
fels to Heidelberg. Crumbling walls, ruined battlements and 
blown-up towers, still remain as mementos of French vandal- 
ism."- "The scum of Europe's mercenary hirelings spread over 



iSee Rupp's "Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants." 
2"Pennsylvania: the German Influence on its Settlement and Develop- 
ment" — Sachse; Vol. I, p. 140. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 25 

Germany's fertile plains, and there perpetrated the most terrible 
martial tragedy that has ever been recorded upon the pages of 
the history of nations."'" 

Although the French were eventually driven out of the 
Duchy of W'urtemberg, through a revival of courage and deter- 
mination started by the brave wife of the Burgomaster of Schoen- 
dorf, the political condition of Germany was too distressed 
for it to take advantage of the temporary success, and vandal- 
ism, outrage, and intolerance followed in quick succession. It 
was at this time that the news of the success of Penn's colony 
was most industriously spread by pamphlet and broadside, and 
thousands flocked to the seaports, awaiting transportation to "the 
Province of Pennsylvania in America," with its promise of 
opportunity and toleration. 

The valley of the Rhine had from the earliest days been 
filled with sects of mystics. The laxity of the Church and the 
profligacy of its spiritual leaders had led to the private study 
of the Scriptures by bands of devoted people, who came to place 
their own interpretations upon its teachings. This cherished 
independence of thought and a spirit of union that made the 
Reformation possible. In some it also led to greater spirituality 
and devotion ; but in others, to fanaticism and a dangerous 
socialism. The Church and the State were both intolerant; 
persecution naturally followed opposition to their mandates and 
teachings, and became so bitter that the various bands of dis- 
senters came to be called "the persecuted sects." Their troubles 
were greatly aggravated, in the early part of the sixteenth 
century, when the question of baptism came into great promi- 
nence in Germany and the Netherlands. Those who held that 
the rite of baptism should be administered only to believers, 
openly opposed infant baptism and the right of the Church to 
insist upon it. Because of this opposition thev were called 
Anabaptists and denounced as heretics. Great dissatisfaction 
wath the Church and with the State already existed, and un- 
scrupulous and fanatic leaders took the opportunity afiforded by 
the excitement over this question and the freedom of practice 
demanded by the Anabaptists, to inflame the oppressed peasants 
to commit great excesses in their demands for rights and 
privileges in other respects. The final outcome was an open 



sScherr's "Kultiu' und Sittengeschichte.' 



26 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

rebellion of the peasants which placed John of Leyden on a 
throne in Muenster. But his party was quickly overcome, and 
then all the fury of a renewed persecution burst upon the 
Aanabaptists. 

Not all of the Aanbaptists had shared, however, in the 
excesses of the "mad prophets of Muenster." I\Iany of them 
were non-resistant and opposed to war and politics and to the 
taking of any form of oath. They also taught and practiced 
plainness in dress and speech. These gathered around J\Tenno 
Simons, who had severed his connection with the Church of 
Rome in 1536. He became their recognized leader and the 
formulator of their doctrines, and from him they took the name 
of Mennonites. "Menno, far in advance of his time, taught the 
complete severance of Church and State, and the principles of 
religious liberty which have been embodied in our own Federal 
Constitution were first worked out in Holland."* As the doc- 
trines of the Mennonites spread, they established churches at 
various points in the Lower Rhine Country. They also carried 
their missionary work into England, where it is claimed that 
George Fox, who afterwards founded the Societ}' of Friends, 
came under the influence of their teachings. AVhether this be 
true or not, it is true that the similarity in the beliefs of these 
two sects made the Mennonite communities of Penn's day favor- 
able places for the spread of Quaker doctrines. There was 
another religious sect in Germany which shared in many of the 
Quaker views, particularly in the doctrine of the Inner Light. 
These were the Pietists or followers of the pious Philip Jacob 
Spener, who maintained "that Christianity was first of all life, 
and that the strongest proof of its doctrine was to be found in 
the experience of the believing." 

The value of a life full of quiet contemplation of God and 
his revelations was shared by all three of these sects. The 
Quakers claimed that, since the coming of Christ, every man 
possessed a spiritual revelation which was superior to conscience 
and even to the Scriptures. This was known as the Inner Light. 
And when all such distracting influences as gaudy dress, dancing, 
and music were removed from the life and the thought, in the 
serenity which followed, the believer could hear the Spirit of 
God speaking in unmistakable terms. Thus each individual was 



4"The Settlement of Germantown." — Pennypacker. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 27 

brought into direct communication with the Divine Life, and 
an educated ministry, and even tlie Sacraments, were unneces- 
sary. This was an extreme view of the doctrine of Quietism 
from which many Friends later on dissented.' Tlie Alennonites, 
while accepting the general doctrine of Quietism, held to the 
Sacraments of the Lord's Supper and Baptism and added a 
third, the Washing of Feet, as being just as mandatory as the 
others. The adherents of Pietism "were opposed to all rigid 
systems of theolog}', and devoted themselves to moral perfec- 
tion."'^ With some of its followers. Pietism conformed to what 
we call evangelical Christianity, but with many it took the 
form of an unpractical mysticism. 

William Penn, during his three preaching tours in Germany 
and Holland, made many personal friends and aroused deep 
interest in his ideas among both Mennonites and Pietists. After 
he returned to England and secured his grant of land in America, 
his thought turned at once to the oppressed people whom he had 
so recently visited. So he wrote to Benjamin Furley, an English 
Quaker who had married a Dutch maiden and settled at Rotter- 
dam and whom he had made his agent, recommending Penn- 
sylvania as an asylum for the persecuted sectaries. His invita- 
tion, together with his "Frame of Government" and a series of 
pamphlets setting forth the advantages of the new colon)', were 
spread among the people. These so appealed to a band of 
Pietists in Frankfort, where Spener had established a Collegia 
Piefatis for the instruction of laymen in religion and the arousing 
of a deeper interest in its benefits, that they decided to accept 
Penn's ofifer. Francis Daniel Pastorius, a well educated Pietist 
Avho had traveled extensively in Europe, visited Frankfort in 
November, 1682. He was at first surprised to hear the little 
band of Pietists there talk seriously of purchasing land in Penn- 
sylvania to which they might transport themselves and their 
children bodily, as it was composed of people of influence and 
distinction. But, like him, they knew enough of the dire changes 
and disturbances of the fatherland, to be impelled to go where 
their own good and that of their neighbor might be furthered, 
"since in Europe worldliness and sin increase from day to day 
and the just punishment of God cannot much longer be delayed." 



f'See the -^vritings of George Keith. 

C'The Making- of Pennsylvania." — Fisher, p. 87. 



28 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

And Pastorius states further, that their interest in the matter 
"begat such a desire in my soul to continue in their society and 
with them to lead a quiet, godly and honest life in a howling 
wilderness, that by several letters I requested my father's con- 
sent, besides two hundred and fifty reichsthaler ; whereupon I 
went to Krisheim and immediately prepared for the journey." 
Pastorius, acting as agent for these people, who now called 
themselves the Frankfort Company, purchased for them 25,000 
acres of land from Penn, at the average price of less than one 
shilling per acre." However, with a possible single exception, 
none of them but Pastorius is known to have come to America.^ 

3. The Founding of the Settlement 

The honor of the first settlement belongs to a band of Men- 
nonite weavers of Crefeld, a town of the lower Rhine near Hol- 
land. They belonged to the persecuted sects which had been 
driven up and down the Rhine for a century and a half. Accept- 
ing Penn's promises of religious freedom in his colony, Jacob 
Telner, an Amsterdam merchant, living in Crefeld, Jan Strey- 
pers of Kaldkirchen, and Dirck Sipman, of Crefeld, each bought 
5000 acres of land from him on the loth of March, 1683. June 
nth, 1683. Penn also conveyed to Govert Remke, Lenert Arets 
and Jacob Isaac van Bebber, all of Crefeld, each 1000 acres. The 
arrangement with these purchasers was that some settlers were 
to be sent out within a specified time. Under this agreement 



TPenn in his letter to Benjamin Furley, Philadelpliia. the- 6th month, 
16S3. speaks as if for 5000 acres of this land he received 100 pounds 
Sterling, retaining- a yearly fee of one shilling for each hundred acres, and 
sold the 20.000 acres outriglit for 800 pounds Sterling. In his pamplilet 
"Information and Directions to Such Persons as are inclined to America," 
he says "£20 which is tlie price of 500 acres;" and again, "ten pence buys 
the fee of an acre uncleared." In connection witli the latter statement, 
lie refers to the gain which the purcliaser might have in liolding Penn- 
sylvania land, which he could buy in fee at about ten pence per acre, 
as fee farms. According to Watson, even as late as 1720, John W^ister 
bought 500 acres of land in Germantown at the rate of 2 shillings per acre. 

sin his report to the Frankfort Company, in 16S4, Pastorius, in speak- 
ing of the growth of Philadelphia and of the necessity of building a jail 
there, mentions the name of Van Walle; "For there are some found here 
about wliom it may be truly said what our dear friend Van Walle (Van 
der Walle) mentions in his open letter, namely: that we have here more 
distress from spoiled Christians than from tlie Indians." This indicates 
tliat one of the Van der Walles came to America, undoubtedly the one 
who was the brother-in-law of the writer of the Germantown letter of 
February 12, 1684. For in tliis letter the writer (probably Hermann Op 
den Graeff), says, "My brother-in-law Van der Walle wrote me that -when 
he arrived in Holland there was a ship coming to America by way of Eng- 
land, etc." Several statements in this letter seem to indicate that tlie 
Carolinas and not Philadelphia was Van der Walle's destination, and that 
George Wertmueller had by this time left Pliiladelphia and also gone 
there, both of them being much pleased with conditions in the Carolinas. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



29 



thirteen Crefeld families were soon ready to sail. They were 
those of 

Lenert Arets 

Abraham Op den Graefif 

Dirck Op den Graeff 

Hermann Op den Graefif 

Willem Streypers 

Thones Kunders ^-^ 



Reynier Tison 
Jan Seimens 
Jan Lens en 
Peter Keurlis 
Johannes Bleikers 
Jan Lucken 



and x\braham Tunes, 
thirty-three persons in all. Before leaving Rotterdam, Telner 
conveyed 2000 acres of his land to the Op den Graeffs and Jan 
Streypers conveyed 100 acres to his brother 
Willem, and 200 acres each to Jan Seimens 
and Peter Keurlis. Most, if not all of these 
settlers, were relatives and probably all of 
them were from Crefeld ; so that though 
a small body, they formed a remarkai^ly 
compact one in all of their interests. Telner 
had been in America between the years 167S 
and 1681, and no doubt greatly influenced 
the purchase. He arranged with James 
Claypoole, a London merchant with whom 
he had dealings, to provide a passage for 
the emigrants. The vessel provided, the 
"Concord," set sail from London July 24th, 
1683, and arrived in Philadelphia on the 6th 
of October. Claypoole says of the passage, "The blessing of 
the Lord did attend us so that we had a very comfortable pas- 
sage and had our health all the way." In a letter written in Ger- 
mantown, February 12th, 1684, the writer (probably Hermann 
Op den Graefif) states concerning the voyage, "We had no 
storms, but at times more wind than at other times. L'pon our 
whole voyage we did not experience as much inconvenience as 
between Holland and England." In another portion of the 
letter the statement is made, "Our number did not decrease upon 
the ocean, but it was increased by two, a son and a daughter." 
Pastorius says, " These honest people expended nearly all their 
means upon the journey, and if William Penn had not advanced 
them some stores, they would of necessity have had to serve 
others." 




A SEVENTEENTH 
CENTURY SHIP 



30 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 



Pastorius, who had arranged to represent both the Frank- 
fort Company and the Crefeld purchasers in America, preceded 
this colony some six weeks. He came on the vessel "America" 
and was accompanied by two children, six servanis, and a young 
boy. The servants consisted of an English maid, a Dutch maid, 
and four male servants — Jacob Schumacher, George Wert- 
mueller, Isaac Dilbeck and Thomas Caspar or Koenradt Rutters 
— -one of the last named probably being the young boy referred 
to in his statement, "concerning my journey hither, I sailed from 




^■^ 'M. 






ROTTERDAM PORT (From an Old Flint.) 

Deal, on the tenth of June, with four men-servants, two servant 
maids, two children, and one young boy * '■' '■' we did not 
arrive here until after a lapse of ten weeks." Concerning their 
treatment on the voyage he says, "The treatment upon our ship 
v/as rather bad. we lived mcdice ac modicc. Every ten persons 
received weekly three pounds of butter, daily four pots of beer, 
and two jugs of water; every day at noon two platters of peas; 
meat four days in the week, and upon the other three days at 
noon, fish, which we had to prepare with our own butter. We 
also had to save enough from our noonday meal to do us for 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOIVN 



31 



our supper. The worst of all was that both our meat and our 
fish were salted to such an extent, and were so rancid, that we 
could hardly partake of half of them. And if 1 had not supplied 
myself at the advice of good friends in England with various 
eatables and drinkables, it would probably have been a bad 
experience."' 

Pastorius built a temporary residence in Philadelphia. This 
was one of the half cave, half house dwellings in which so many 
of the early settlers of Philadelphia at first lived. In referring 



^^'K'^ 


















A CAVE DW^ELLIXG 

to Penn's requirement that houses must within two years be 
built upon the three Philadelphia lots granted to the Frankfort 
Company in connection with their purchase, he speaks of his 
temporary c|uarters as follows: 'T have already (]\Iarch 7, 1684) 
upon the first (lot), together with our servingman (Jacob Schu- 
macher), erected a small one, half under and half above ground, 
which indeed is only thirty shoes long and fifteen wide. Yet 
when the Crefelders lodged with me, it could harbor twenty 
persons. Upon the window of oil-soaked paper, over the 
door, I wrote : Parva domus, scd amicus bonus. Procttl cste 



32 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

profani! which W. Penn lately read, and it pleased him. Besides 
this I have a cellar, seven shoes deep, twelve wide and twenty 
long, on the Delaware stream, and am now engaged in building 
a stable.'"* 

The purchasers had bargained for land on a navigable river. 
But, as they were displeased with the hilliness of the land which 
was assigned to them along the Schuylkill, in what is now Mana- 
yunk and Roxborough, a warrant was issued on the 12th of 
October to Pastorius, on behalf of the settlers, for 6000 acres 
of more level land farther east. On the 24th of October Thomas 
Fairman, Penn's Surveyor-General, measured off fourteen divi- 
sions of land within this tract, as a preliminary arrangement for 
the new settlers, and on the next day they met in Pastorius' cave 
and drew lots for their choice of land. Watson in his Annals of 
Philadelphia, Vol. II, p. 18, refers to this drawing of lots in the 
cave of Pastorius in the following words : "The original of the fol- 
lowing curious paper is in the hands of John Johnson, Esq. : 

" 'We whose names are to these presents subscribed, do hereby cer- 
tify to all whom it may concern, that soon after our arrival in this 
province of Pennsylvania, in October, 1G83, to our certain knowledge, 
Herman op den Graff, Dirk op den Graff, and Abraham op den Graff, 
as well as we ourselves, in the cave of Francis Daniel Pastorius, at 
Philadelphia, did cast lots for the respective lots which they and we 
then began to settle in Germantown and the said Graffs (three brothers) 
have sold their several lots, each by himself, no less than if a division 
in writing had been made by them. Witness our hands this 29th Nov., 
A. D. 1709. 

LENART ARETS 
JAN LENSEN 
THOMAS HUNDER 
WILLIAM STREYGBRT 
REINER TYSEN 
ABRAHAM TUNES 
JAN LUCKEN.' " 

The settlers immediately occupied the lots assigned them 
and began to erect the huts in which the}^ passed the winter. 
This and the following winter were particularly trying ones to 
them, as it took time to clear away the timber and to establish 
themselves. "It could not be described," wrote Pastorius, "nor 
would it be believed by coming generations in what want and 
need and with what Christian contentment and persistent indus- 
try this Germantownship started." Some, he said, because of the 



9See the "Pastorius Letters and Report." — Sachse. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 33 

poverty of the settlers, jokingly suggested that the settlement be 
called Annciitozvn. But, after the second winter, prosperity be- 
gan to appear and "there passed away now no year without new- 
comers strengthening the little settlement. They came out of 
Crefeld, out of Mulheim and Krisheim (Kriegsheim near 
Worms), out of wider circles of west Germany, and out of Hol- 
land." Dr. Rush, in his "Essays," published in 1798, adds to this, 
"The aged Germans, and the ancestors of those who are young, 
emigrated chiefly from the Palatinate ; from Alsace, Swabia, 
Saxony and Switzerland." These new settlers secured their land 
from the original purchasers. But it was not always bought 
outright. The Frankfort Company especially held much of its 
land as fee farms, the annual fee or rental of which seems to 
have been "Two Reichsthaler." Penn sold Leonard Arets 
1000 A. of land the nth day of June, 1683, which was subject to 
a yearly quit-rent of ten shillings. On the nth day of March, 
1707, he released all but one shilling of this fee— "The Grant and 
Release from William Penn to Leonard Arets, Purchaser of 1000 
Acres, of Nine Shillings part of the Quitrent of the sd 1000 Acres 
of Land, reserving only one Shilling Sterling for the whole, is 
Recorded in the Roll's office at Philadelphia in Book A, Vol. I, 
Page 200. The sd Grant Dated ye nth Day of June Ao Dm 1683. 

Witnessed at Phila ye nth of ye ist mo 1707-8 By 

THOMAS STORY." 

The practice of retaining annual fees in land and lots trans- 
ferred to others continued in Germantown for some time after 
its settlement. In 1701 Jan Strepers released all claim to fifty 
acres of land in Germantown to Jan Lensen for "Fifteen Pounds 
Currt Silver money of Pensilvania," except, "on the first day of 
the first month called Alarch, one Rixdollar and half a Stuyver 
Hollands money from the year One thousand Seven hundred 
and One for the time to come for ever." should be paid to the 
said Jan Strepers or his heirs or assigns as a yearly fee. Numer- 
ous other instances are to be found in the early records. ^° It is 
the idea which later no doubt suggested or came to be called 
"ground-rent." These fees varied, but were usually about two 
shillings for fifty acres of land, as the following seem to show : 

"Whereas, Thomas van Wylick and John le Brun, both Part- 
ners of the Franckfurt Company by the 3d article In Indentur 

10 See Grund- und Lager-Buch of Germantown. 



34 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMAKTOWN 

made with Heyvert Papen on the 23rd of the ist month (March), 
1685, ordered amongst other things that there should be assigned 
here unto the said Heyvert Papen 50 acres of land, to work 
thereupon one day in every week during the four years of his 
service, and after they are faithfully Finished, to pay for the 
same the usual rent of the Country. But in the aforesaid Inden- 
tur the Sum of the yearly rent not being distinctly expressed, 
and the word usual ambiguous, and of a divers Construction, the 
above named Thomas van Wylick in a particular Letter under 
his own hand dated the ist of the 2nd month (April), 1688, did 
refer this Difference to impartial arbitrators. In pursuance 
whereof afterwards Anno 1689 the 3d of the 6th month (August), 
Francis Daniel Pastorius, the Attorney of the said Franckfurt 
Company in their name, and Heyvert Papen in his own behalf, 
have putt and committed this questionable point to hindry 
Waddy, Jhon Hart, William Hudson, Hinry Bartlett, and Rich- 
ard Helliard five unsuspected men, laying the above sd Indentur 
before them and binding both Party es in the penalty of ten 
pounds to stand unto their determination, which said five arbitra- 
tors by their own accord in writting judged, that Heyvert Papen 
Shall pay yearly for the said 50 acres to the Franckfurt Company 
or order the sum of two Shillings and one penny Lawfull money 
of old England, or this Country money equivalent." Also the 
deed on the opposite page, a free translation of which is as 
follows : 

"Know and let it be known herewith every one, that because Ben- 
jamin Furley, as Attorney of the Franlifort Company at Rotterdam, to 
Johannes Bleickers, Two Hundred acres of land in the Province of 
Pennsylvania as a perpetual lease, namely, for eight rixs dollars Yearly 
on the 1st of March, To be paid, has let and leased, I, Frantz Daniel 
Pastorius, as Attorney for the aforesaid Company, hereby declare that 
Two hundred acres in the following manner have been laid out and 
measured: 

1. Fifty acres of land in Germantown, on the West Side, Between 
the cross-street and the aforesaid Company's Double reservation. 

2. Twenty-five acres of land in Germantown on the West Side, Be- 
tween Hans Millan and Arnold Cassel. 

3. Twentj^-five acres of land likewise in Germantown on the West 
Side Between Aret Klinken and John Silans. 

4. One Hundred acres of land in Krisheim, 39 rods 3^^ feet wide. 
Between Gerhard Ruettinghaus and Levin Herberdinck. 











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36 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

That now these four different tracts laid out and in possession, the 
aforesaid land even the Two Hundred acres which the above mentiond 
Benjamin Furley to Johannes Bleickers, His Heirs and Assigns, in the 
Name of the aforesaid Franlifort Company have been let in perpetual 
lease, according to the Open Letter made the eighth day of the Month 
commonly called June, Anno 1GS3, in the 35th Year of the Reign of King 
Charles the Second, under such conditions as in the aforesaid Open Let- 
ter with other things is expressed and set forth. In witness I write 
underneath the Letters of this my own hand, and with it set my offlcial 
seal. So done in Germantown the fifteenth of Septembr, Anno Dom. 
1G97. FRANTZ DANIEL PASTORIUS, 

Sealed and delivered '^^^ Frankfort Company's Attorney. 

in the presence of us as Witnesses 

ARENT KLINCKEN Passed in open Court of Record 

JAN DOEDEN held in Germantown 

the 2Gth of November, 1700. 

PETER SCHUMACHER, Clerk." 

Under the warrant issued to Pastorius, 5350 acres, consti- 
tuting the Germantownship, were finally laid out and allotted 
May 2, 1684, as follows : 

Frankfort Purchasers. 

Jacobus Van de Walle 535 A. 

Johann Jacob Schutz 428 A. 

Johan Wilhelm Uberfeld 107 A. 

Daniel Behagel 356 2-3 A. 

George Strauss 178 1-3 A. 

Jan Laurens 535 A. 

Abraham Hasevoet 535 A. 

Total 2675 A. 

Crefeld Purchasers. 

Jacob Telner 989 A. 

Jan Streypers 275 A. 

Dirck Sipman 588 A. 

Govert Remke 161 A. 

Lenert Arets 501 A. 

Jacob Isaacs (Van Bebber) 161 A. 

Total 2675 A. 

In addition to these, 200 A. were allotted to Pastorius and 
150 A. to Jurian Hartsf elder, who had been Deputy Sherift' under 
Andros, and now wished to join the settlers. But no patent 
for these possessions had yet been issued. With a view of 
granting this, a more accurate survey of the Germantownship 
was made December 29, 1687, and a patent Avas then granted 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 37 

for the 5700 acres it was found to contain. The township was 
then divided into four villages : 

Germantown, with 2750 A. 

Cresheimii " 884 A. 

Sommerhausen " 900 A. 

Crefeld " 1166 A. 

The remainder of the land purchased by the Frankfort Com- 
pany and the Cref elders, was surveyed in what are now [Mont- 
gomery, Bucks, and Lancaster Counties. 

"The division of the 2750 acres belonging to Germantown 
was taken in hand on the 29th day of December, 1687, and on 
the following days. The land of the rest of the districts on the 
4th of April, 1689, to the purchasers and fee-farmers by lot." 
"The township of Germantown was cut into 55 equal parts of 
50 A. each. On account, however, of the favorable location of 
some parts and the unfavorable location of others, thus causing 
great difference in worth, each was allowed only part of his land 
in the middle of the town, taking the remainder from the so-called 
side-lots which lay to the north and the south." The holders of 
these lots in 1689, 1714, and 1766 were as follows :^- 

Germantown Town-Lots Towards Bristol 
(East side of Main Street) 

Lot No. Orig-inal Owner Owner in 1714. Owners in 1766 

in 1689 

Ic Peter Keurlis Peter Kerling Adam Haas, Geo. Reis, 

George Hopple, and 
others. 

2 Tunis Kunders Tunis Conrad John Weiss, Jr.; George 

Dannenhour, and oth- 
ers. 

3 John Lensen John Lensen Wm. Biddis's Heirs, and 

Godfrey Boclvius. 

4 Leonard Arets Leonard Arets Christian, Elizabeth and 

Barbara Eckstein, and 
others. 

5s Reynier Tysen Isaac von Sintern Michael Branson, John 

Bringhurst, and oth- 
ers. 



iiSpelled Krisheim by Pastorius, and Creesam by Christian Lehman. 

12 The original 13 settlers were no doubt allowed to retain the land 
first assigned them, for after the final division, they are found to be lo- 
cated together at the southern end of the village on both sides of the 
main road. 



38 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

Lot No. Original Owner Owner in 1714 Owners in 17G6 

m 16S9 

6 John Lucken Herman Castorp Anthon Steimer, Chris- 

topher Sower, and 
others. 

7 Abraham Tunis Jacob Gottschalli John Wister, George 

Merger, John Fre}% 
Michael Eges, and 
others. 

8 Gerhard Heinrich. . .Isaac Shoemaker Benj. Shoemaker, Esq., 

David Sherkges Jolm .Jones, Jr., Thos. 

Rose. 

9 Walter Simon Walter Simon Caspar Wister, Paul 

Kirpner, Daniel Lu- 
cken, John Gardner. 

10 Dirck Kolk James Delaplain Caspar Wister, The 

Wiggart Levering. . . Church, Mackenet, 

Jacob Coleman, Danl. 
Lucken. 

11 Herman van Bonn Herman van Bonn George Heamer, John 

Jones, Mackenet, Ja- 
cob Coleman and 
others. 

12 Gerhard Levering. . .John Doeden John Smith, Danl. Lu- 

Henry Sellen cken, Jacob Bowman, 

John Lehman. 

13 Henry Bucholtz .John Henry Sprogel. ...Hartman Adam, Trouts, 

Frankford Co Christian Lehman, 

Isaac Shaffer George Pickes. 

14 Cornelius Bonn Paul Kestner Wendel Heft, Henry 

Beill, Barbara Sny- 
der, and others. 

1.5 Isaac Dil'beck Daniel Geissler Conrad Reiff, Elizabeth 

Collings, and others. 

16 Enneke Klosterman. . .Francis Daniel Abram, Samuel, Daniel, 

Pastorius.. and Hannah Pasto- 
rius, and mother. 

17 John Doeden John Doeden Christian Warmer, Jr. 

18 Andreas Souplis Christian Warmer, Sr. .Christian Warmer, Jr. 

19 Wm. Rittenhouse Arnold van Fossen John Bowman, Baptist 

Burying Ground, and 
others. 

20 Claus Rittenhouse. . . .Paul Engle Paul Engle. 

21 Claus Rittenhouse. . . .Hans Henry Lane Paul Engle. 

22 Dirck Keyser, Sr Dirck Keyser Dirck Keyser's Heirs, 

and John, Jacob, and 
Andrew Keyser's 
Sons. 

23 Wm. Strepers Paul Engle Dirck Keyser's Heirs, 

and John, Jacob, and 
Andrew Keyser's 
Sons. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 39 

Germantown Town-Lots Towards Schuylkill 

(West side of Main Street) 

Lot No. Orig-inal Owner Owner in 1714 Owners in 1766 

in 16S9 

1 John Strepers Joseph Shippen, Sr Edward, Joseph, and 

William Shippen. 

2 Dirck op de Graeff. . . .Widow op de Graeff. . . .'Hittner, Hall, Weidman, 

Shippen, and others. 

3 Herman op de Graeff. Joseph Shippen, Sr Joseph, Shippen, Jr., 

Abram op de Graeff. . Edward, and William 

Shippen. 

4B Jno. Simons after 

Wm. Strepers. .. .John Neiss Wynard Neiss, John 

Theobold Endt. 

5 Paul Wulff Conrad Jansen Theobold Endt, Jacob 

Ritter, Lashett, Losh, 
and others. 

6 John Elickersi3 Herman Tunen Christian Sower, Justus 

Fox, John Frey, and 
others. 

7 Frankford Co John Henry Sprogell . . . John Frey, John Key- 

ser, Simon Siron. 

8 Jacob Shoemaker Quaker Meeting Quaker Meeting, John 

Jacob Shoemaker Bockius, and others. 

Jacob Isaac van 

9 Bebber John Jarrett Abram. Griffith, John 

Jacob Tellner Wynn, Christ. Meng, 

Wm. Ashmead, Desh- 
ler, C. Bensell. 

10 Heivert Papen Heivert Papen Dr. Bensell, Alsentz, 

Jacob Coleman, and 
others. 

11 Jacob Jansen Klinges . Tunis Conrad John .Tones, Tanner, and 

others. 

12 Cornelius Sioertsi*. .. .Cornelius Shuhard alias Syverts, now Ja- 
cob Snyder's. 

13 Hans Peter Umstad. . .George Adam John Koch, Christian 

Hogermoed.. Meng. 

14 Peter Shoemaker Peter Shoemaker, Sr.. .Melchior Meng.Kreyter, 

Bockius, Kurtz, Peter 
Smith. 



13 According- to the old deed which is reproduced on p. 35, and which is 
still in the possession of the family, John Slickers (Johannes Bleickers) in 
1697 owned on the west side of Main street, not only Lot No. 6, but also the 
lot between Hans Milan's and Arnold Cassel's — probably Lot. No. 18, as well 
as a lot between that of Aret Klinken and the one owned by John Silans, 
which was probably a part of Lot No. 20. At that time he also owned 
Lot No. 4, in Creslieim. 

14 This name is spelled Sioerts or Sjoerts on all of the original records. 
Pastorius in the "Grund und Lag-er-Buch," spells it Sioerdts. It is proba- 
bly the effort to spell tlie name Swarz CSchwarz — black) witli English 
letters, the German w being pronounced vey. Efforts to render the name 
as written seem to have produced the names Sliuliard and Syverts. 



40 HISTORY OP OLD GBRMANTOWN 

Lot No. Orig-inal Owner Owner in 1714 Owners in 1766 

in 1689 

15 Jacob Tellner John Williams John, Adam, and Barba- 

Jurian Hartsfielder. . ra Hogermoed; Ann 

Peters, B. Engle, Ja- 
cob and Mary Keyser. 

IG Claus Thompson Claus Thompson John Johnson. 

17 Hans Milan Dirck Johnson Richard Johnson. 

18 Henry Frey Philip Christian Matthias Knor and John 

Zimmerman.. Knor. 

19 Johannes Kassell John Henry Sprogell. . .Rebecca von Aken, Wid- 

derholtz, Robert Cly- 
mer, and others. 

20 Aret Klinken Anthony Klinken John Johnson, John 

Abram op de Graeff. . Keyser, Tanner. 

21 John Silans Paul Engle John Frederick Ox, Pe- 

ter Ox, and John Ox's 
Widow. 

Germantown Side-Lots Towards Bristol 

Each Town-Lot with its corresponding Side-Lot contained 50 acres. 
Eacli owner of a Town-Lot in 1689 owned a corresponding Site-Lot; e. g. 
Tunis Kunders (Conrad) owned Town-Lot No. 2, Towards Bristol, also Side- 
Lot No. 2, Towards Bristol, at that time. 

Lot No. Owner in 1714 Owners in 1766 

IC Peter Kerling Jacob Naglee, James Logan, and Wm. Logan. 

Ic Peter Kerlingis Hoffman's Heirs, Hoppall, John Wister, and 

others. 

2 Tunis Conrad Jacob Naglee, James Logan, and Wm. Logan. 

3 John Lensen Wm. Biddis's Heirs, Theobold End, Mechlin, 

Mehl, Reis, Peter Miller, and John Dedier. 

4 Leonard Arets Baltes Reiser, Hoffman, Keamer, Losh, Hay, 

Reisinger and others. 

5s Isaac von Sintern Shippen towards Schuylkill and Sam'l Pow- 
ell towards Bristol. 

6 Herman Castorp Samuel Powell. 

7 Jacob Gottschalk Samuel Powell, Lawrentz Belitz. 

8 Isaac Shoemaker Benj. Shoemaker, Esq., John Channel's Heirs, 

Joseph Marks. 

9 Walter Simon Joseph Marks, Abraham Pauls. 

10 James Delaplain George Kast and Abraham Pauls. 

11 Herman von Bonn Jacob Adam Hogermoed, John Hogermoed, and 

others. 

12 John Doeden Matthias Adam Hogermoed's Heirs. 

13 John Henry Sprogell.. John Tulison and Heirs, Reynier Vogdes's 

Heirs. 

14 Paul Kestner Reynier Vogdes's Heirs, John Star and Vogdess 

Heirs. 



15 Now Garfield Street. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOJVN 41 

Lot No. Owner in 1714 Owners in 1766 

15 Daniel Geissler Coorad Reiff, Elizabeth Collings, and others. 

IG Francis Daniel 

Pastorius. .Daniel Pastorius's Heirs. 

17 John Doeden Christian Warmer's Heirs. 

IS Christian Warmer, Sr.Christian Warmer's Heirs. 

19 Arnold van Fossen Jaul Engle, John Bowman. 

20 Paul Engle Paul Engle. 

21 Hans Henry Lane Paul Engle. 

22 Dirck Keyser Jacob Keyser, Mason, Wm. Keyser's Son. 

23 Paul Engle John Johnson, Jacob Keyser. 

Germantown Side-Lots Towards Schuylkill 

Lot No. Owner in 1714 Owners in 1766 

1 John Strepers Samuel Ashmead, Esq. 

2 Widow op de Graeff .. .Joseph, Edward, and William Shippen. 

3 Joseph Shippen, Sr. .Joseph, Edward, and Wm. Shippen, Baltes Re- 

ser, Daniel Endt. 

4B John Neiss Baltes Reser, Jacob Knorr, and Johnson's part. 

5 Conrad Jansen Upper Burying Ground, Peter Keyser. 

6 Herman Tunen Sam'l Shoemaker, Esq., Ludwick Engelhard, 

and others. 

7 John Henry Sprogell. . Meyer, Snyder, Stoneburner, Jacob Engle, 

Jacob Hall. 

8 Jacob Shoemaker Quaker Meeting. Benjamin Chew, Esq., Michael 

Heitz, and others. 

9 John Jarrett John Johnson, Benj. Chew, Richard Johnson. 

10 Heivert Papen John Johnson, Richard Johnson, Hesser, Kast, 

and others. 

11 Tunis Conrads Elizabeth Deshler, Jno. Jones, Gensel, Fawns, 

and others. 

12 Cornelius Shuards. ., .Henry Sharpneck, Peter Leipert. 

13 George Adam 

Hogermoed. .Conrad Good, Christopher Jacoby, Philip Weber. 

14 Peter Shoemaker, Sr. .Jacob Enders, Jno. Johnson, Killian Weiss, 

Isaac Roush, Gensel, and others. 

15 John Williams Fisher, Gensel, John Johnson, Kast, The 

Church, Martin Beck. 

16 Claus Thompson Richard Johnson, late Dirck Johnson. 

17 Dirck Johnson Richard Johnson and S. W. part of No. 15. 

18 Philip Christian 

Zimmerman. .Jacob, David, Matthias, and John Knorr, 
Joseph Gorgas. 

19 John Henry Sprogell. John Gorgas, Heysler, Jacob, Joseph, and 

Benj. Gorgas. 

20 Anthony Klinken John Johnson all but 1 acre, which is John 

Gorgas's. 

21 Paul Engle John Johnson, Frederick Ox. 



42 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

Owners o£ Cresheim Lots 

Lot . ,„„„ 

No. — Acres Owner in 1697 Owners m 1/66 

1-297 Gerhard Rittenhouse. Gerhard Rittenhouse, Christian Bastian, John 

Conrad. 
2-100 Gerhard Rittenhouse. Mathias Jacobs, Mathias Barenstine, Anthony 

Hinkel's Heirs. 
3- 50 Gerhard Rittenhouse.Herman Casdorp, Mathias Milan, Peter Heys- - 

ler, Peter Hay. 

4-100 Johannes Bleikers.. .Johannes Bleikers, Mathias Milan, Peter Heys- 

ler, Wm. Allen, Esq., Seb'n Miller. 

5- 50 Levin Herberdinck.. Peter Rittenhouse's Heirs, Wm. Allen, Esq. 
(3-50 Jacob Sell, Jno. Hammer, Jr., Ab'm Henry, Jno. 

Dulisang, Cornelia Smith, George Hoffman, 
Ulrich Zollinger. 

7-119 Ulrich Zollinger, Christian Wideman. 

8-118 Isaac Deav's, Ab'm and Thomas Deav's, Jacob 

Gensel's Heirs, Jno. Gorgas, Martin Shoe- 
maker. 

Owners of Summerhausen Lots 

Lot 

No. — Acres Owner in 1714 Owners m liCS 

1-200 Francis Daniel 

Pastorius. .Christ'r Yagell, Bachman, Chas. Hubb's Heirs, 
Mich'l Hillegas, John Bons, and others. 

2-200 Jno. Robenstock, Tib- 
bens (Henry Tub- 
ben?) Henry Kibler, Conrad Switzer, and others. 

3-75 Abraham Tunis Peter Shilbert, Michael Millberger, Charles 

Hubbs, Mich'l Slatter, Martin Houser. 

4-75 Henry Kress, Julius Karper, John Rex, Mich'l 

Millberger. 

5-100 Peter Kook, Sam'l Mummy, Ab'm Rex, Martin 

Thomas, Peter Kook. 

6- 75 George Miller Wiggard Miller. 

7- 75 Cornelius Neus? Cornelius Nice's and Jacob and Jno. Kupp's 

Heirs, Jno. Conrad. 

8- 75 John Neus? Cornelius Nice's and Jacob and Jno. Kupp's 

Heirs, Jno. Conrad's Heirs. 

The approximate location of the lots as originally assigned 
in 1689, is shown on the accompanying map. By referring to 
the map it will be seen that some secured more than 50 acres and 
that there were in 1689 but 44 lots in the German town district. 

The settlement was now firmly planted, and the settlers 
ready to establish more permanent homes. Accordingly, the foun- 
dations of a number of houses were at once laid. German energy, 
resolution, and fondness for emigration had found a new field 
for development, a land free from the social and political degra- 




rOVVNSHlP°'CrRM/KTOWN 

3 PWHEft 



Un. ,t„.u ,k„„ ..l.hm^ MA' 
MAii,u,„J 






HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 43 

elation of the Fatherland but, above all, a place in which "the 
persecuted sects"' were free to worship as they deemed best. 
Pastorius in the "Germantown Grund und Lager-Buch," in 
which he kept a record of conveyances of land, wrote an in- 
vocation to the new settlement which the poet \\ hittier has beau- 
tifully rendered into English as follows : 

Hail to posterity! 
Hail future men of Germanopolis! 
Let the young generations yet to be 
Look kindly upon this. 
Think how your fathers left their native land, 
Dear German land, O! sacred hearts and homes! 
And where the wild beast roams 
In patience planned 
New forest homes beyond the mighty sea, 
There undisturbed and free 
To live as brothers of a family. 
What pains and cares befell, 
What trials and fears, 
Remember, and wherein we have done well 
Follow our footsteps, men of coming years; 
Where we have failed to do 
Aright or wisely live, 
Be warned by us, the better way pursue. 
And knowing we were human, even as you. 
Pity us and forgive. 
Farewell, Posterity; 
Farewell, dear Germany; 
Forevermore farewell! 

That Pastorius hoped to have the new settlement called Ger- 
manopolis is evident from this invocation, also from a volume 
of "Useful Tracts." dedicated by him to Tobias Schaumberg, of 
Windsheim, the title page of which closes with these words, 
which are literally translated : "Out of the in Pennsylvania newly 
by me founded and now with good success growing town of 
Germanopolis A. C. 1690."^" But it came to be called German- 
town, a name less classical but made none the less honorable 
by many a descendant of its hardy and God fearing founders. 



16 The original copy Is in the possession of the Historical Society of 
Pennsylvania. 



CHAPTER III 



THE BOROUGH OF GERMANTOWN 

Germantown was a small settlement, but its settlers were 
accustomed in the Fatherland to borough organization. Hence, 
soon after they became well established, and while the place yet 
contained probably not more than sixty families, they petitioned 
the proprietor and secured a borough charter from him. In this 
Charter of Incorporation, granted by Wm. Penn the 30th day 
of the 3rd month, 1691, he says, "And I doe by these presents 
Assigne, nominate, declare and make the said Francis Daniel 
Pastorius of German Towne, Civilian, to be the first and present 
Bailiffe and the aforesaid Jacob Telner, Dirck Isaacs Opte Graaf, 
Herman Isaacs Opte Graaf and Tennis Coender to be the first 
and present Burgesses, and the aforesaid Abraham Isaacs Opte 
Graaf, Jacob Isaacs (Van Bebber), Johannes Casselle, Hey wart 
Hapon (Heivert Papen), Herman Bon and Dirck Vankolk the 
first and present Committee men of the said Corporation." The 
charter granted them power to make ordinances, to impose fines, 
to admit citizens, and to hold a court and a market. 

In 1 701, a tax was levied for the erection of a prison and a 
market. They had found it necessary to erect stocks as early 
as 1694, although early Germantown remained singularly free 
from the kind of crimes requiring serious legal penalties. ]\Iar- 
ket was held once a week "in the road or highway where the 
cross street of Germantown goes down to the Schuylkill." In 
another place Pastorius says : "Through the middle of the town 
is a 60 ft. wide street which is bordered with peach trees. Every 
dwelling has a vegetable and a flower garden of 3 A. size. A 
cross street 40 ft. wide cuts through the main street and at 
the crossing point stands the market place." An acre of ground 
"before the vSixth Lot on the West Side of the said Town" had 
been set aside from the first "for a Market, Town-house, Bury- 
ing place and other public buildings, uses, behoofs whatsoever, 
the said Sixth Lot then being the midst or center of the above- 
said Town." But as the town grew, this location was found to 
be too far from the center, so one-fourth acre of it was exchanged 
with Paul Wulff for two lots of one-half acre each, one at each 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 45 

end of the town, and the remainder was sold to him in order 
that a more central location might be purchased. Accordingly, 
in 1704, the present ^larket Square was purchased from James 
Delaplaine for four pounds. The reference to this is as follows : 

"The 6th of the nth month 1703-4 a full general Court 
from which nobody but Heinrich Tuben was absent, through 
general consent, ncminc coiitradiccntc, the three-fourths acre 
by Paul W'ulff's House and the same sold to him for four pounds, 
does hereby for these 4 pounds from James Delaplaine buy a 
half acre of land, namely to the southeast street 14 rods and to 
the little street 5 and ^ rods wide. This half acre shall be 
used for a Market place and the prison House, Stocks, Pound, 
etc., thereon to be built. 

"Further a contract was made with Herman von Bon and 
James Delaplaine to build the prison House and Stocks, each 
to receive 3s. 6d. per day and board himself and have 2 quarts 
of rum bought." William DeWees agreed to build the Pound 
out of "good wood," and Peter Schumacher and Haac Schu- 
macher were ordered to see that the Prison and Stocks were 
erected as soon as possible. 

Under the charter, the Bailiff and two oldest Burgesses 
served as Justices of the Peace, and the Bailiff and three oldest 
Burgesses constituted the Court for the town. This court was 
"to be held every Six Weeks in the year." The first Court of 
Record was held on the 6th day of the 8th month, 1691. Its 
organization was as follows: Francis Daniel Pastorius,- Bailiff, 
and Jacob Telner, Isaacs op de Graeff, Herman op de Graeff, the 
three Eldest Burgesses, were the Judges ; Isaac Jacob Van 
Bebber was Recorder; Paul Wulff, Clerk; Andrew Souplis, 
Sheriff, and Jan Luken, Constable. Extracts from the various 
records^ of this Court reveal to us quite a great deal of the life 
and thought of the people of Germantown in those early days : 

"1692-3. The 2ist day of the 12th month, by reason of the 
absence of some for a religious meeting over Schuylkill, this 
Court was adjourned till the 4th of 2d month, 1693."" 

1 The original Court Record may be seen in tlie rooms of the Histori- 
cal Society of Pennsylvania. 

2 March was the 1st month. The double year, like 1C92-3, was used 
by tliem because others began their year witli January, tlius rendering tlie 
double date necessary to clearly indicate the year; hence tlie 21st day of 
the 12th month 1692-3 was, in tlie usual reckoning of dates, tlie 21st day 
of February, 1693, and the 21st day of the 8th month, 1692-3, was the 21st 
-day of October, 1692. 



46 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOIVN 

"1694. The 19th of the ist month, by reason of a religious 
meeting the Court adjourned until the 26th of this same month." 

"1703. 28th day of December, Alatthew Peters, the plain- 
tiff, by reason of conscience, viz : that this was the day wherein 
Herod slew the Innocents, as also his witnesses were, and would 
for the above reason not be here, desired a continuance to the 
next Court of Record to be held for the Corporation, which is 
allowed of." 

In 1703, Paul Engle declined to serve as an officer of the 
Court "for conscientious reasons." 

The colonists evidently placed religious duties before all 
others and believed fully in the sovereignty of conscience. 

"1695. 7th day of 3rd month, P K was attested 

whv he did not come when the Justice sent for him ; he answered 
he had much work to do, whereupon he was further attested 
why he refused to lodge travellers; Answer: he only intended 
to sell drink, but not to keep an ordinary. 

"Then he was attested why he did sell barley-malt beer at 
4d a quart, against the law of this Province? Answer: he did 
not know such a law ; lastly he was asked why he would not 
obey the law of the Germantown Corporation which forbids to 
sell more than a gill of rum or a quart of beer every half day to 
each individual? Answer: they being able to bear more, he 
could or would not obey that law." 

"1703. G M for his drunkenness was condemned 

to five days imprisonment. Item, to pay the Constable 2s. for 
serving the warrant in the case of his laying a wager to smoke 
above one hundred pipes in a day." 

"1704. The petition of Joseph Colson, wherein he desires 
of this Court a license for keeping an Inn in this town, was 
read and granted. The said Colson was informed by this Court 
that all those who settle in Germantown are to pay 6s. for being 
incorporated and capable of the privileges contained in our 
charter." 

The use of alcoholic beverages and tobacco was common, 

but their flagrant abuse was liable to punishment. P 

K 's opinion as to the capacity of his fellow townsmen 

was no doubt a prejudiced one. The cost of citizenship was, in 
1704, six shillings ; earlier it seems to have been one pound. But 
this fee misfht be remitted as it was in the following cases : 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOIVN 47 

"1694. 25th day of loth month, Maria Margaretta Zimmer- 
man, widow, was received gratis into our Corporation." 

"The 25th of the nth month 1694-5 to the bhnd man Cor- 
neHs Plockoy was citizenship granted as a gift." 

Records of the indentures of servants and apprentices are 
frequent: 

"1692. The 14th day of the 4th month, before the Baihff 
the Eldest Burgesses, Recorder and officers aforementioned, 
proclamation being made, Thomas Jonas delivered unto Francis 
Daniel Pastorius an indenture concerning a servant girl named 
Anna Thomas. Gerrit Hendricks and Sytje, his wife, delivered 
unto Aret Klincken an indenture of apprenticeship concerning 
their son William Gerrits." 

"1702. 15th day of Sept. Glaus Jansen and ^Matthias Frank 
with consent of his mother, Alitje Hoover, delivered to each 
other indentures of apprenticeship." 

The following indicates that the Court was expected to main- 
tain somewhat paternal relations towards the people under its 
jurisdiction : 

"1692. The 29th of 9th month, John Silans (upon Jacob 
Schumacker's complaint) promised before this Court to finish 
the said Jacob Schumacker's barn within four weeks next 
coming." 

"1692. The 13th of the 9th month, after proclamation, be- 
fore the persons aforenamed, in open Court, Arnold Cassel, over- 
seer of the fences, declared that Jacob Isaacs, Jacob Pelness, and 
Andrew Griskum's fences were not sufficient." 

"1694. Herman van Bon complained against Johann Pet- 
tinger, that the said Johann Pettinger did beat and abuse one of 
his the said Herman Van Bon's hoggs." 

"1701. The 20th day of the nth month, John Lenzen gave 
over with the assent of the Court keeping an ordinary." 

The difficulty of clearing away the timber^ to secure land 
for farming was so great, and the value of cleared land increased 
so rapidly, that the settlers opposed the opening of cross-streets 



3 In clearing- new land, they do not g-irdle the trees, and leave them 
to perish in the ground, as is the custom of their English and Irish 
neighbors; but they generally cut them down and burn them. In destroy- 
ing underwood and bushes, they generally gijub them out of the ground. 
— "The German Inhabitants of Pennsylvania'" in tlie "Essays," by Benj. 
Rush, M. D., 1798. 



48 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

that cut through their land, and they often encroached upon such 
streets after they were opened : 

"1694-5. The 5th day of the 12th month. The overseers 
of the ways were ordered to cause the road towards Sarah Schu- 
mackers, to be declared and made, and else well and faithfully 
to discharge their duties. 

The overseers of the fences likewise were commanded to 
look strictly to all fences, and cause the fences in the Mill street 
to be removed on their right place, that the said street may have 
its just breadths between this and the last of the 5th month 
next." 

This court was not always able to enforce due respect for 
its dignity nor for its dignitaries : 

"170L. The nth day of the 9th month, T W 

and A C appeared in Court for direct answer con- 
cerning the fees and charges he was at in the case of H 

L ; the Court producing his accounts he said that the 

paper was cut off and blotted, and this was done since he deliv- 
ered it to the Court, and that who could trust such a court." 

His plainness of speech must have produced an impression, 
for we at once find the statement, "The Court adjourned for 
four weeks." 

"The 28tli day of November, 1704, D F coming 

into this Court behaved himself very ill, like one that was last 
night drunk, and not yet having recovered his witts. He railed 
most grievously on the Recorder, Simon Andrews, and the 
Bailiff, Aret Klincken, as persons not fit to sit in a court; he 
challenged Peter Schoemaker, one of the Judges on the bench, 
to come forth, and more like enormities. The Sheriff, William 
de Wees, telling him that he would not do so in Philadelphia, 

the said F himself, answered, no, not for a hundred pounds, 

and after abundance of foul language, when the Court bid the 
Sheriff and the Constable bring him out, he went himself, crying 
yr)U are all fools !" 

The record of the first court trial and the verdict of the first 
Coroner's jury impanelled follow: 

"1694. The fifth day of the 12th month, before Arnold 
Cassel, Bailiff, Reinert Tisen, Peter Schumacher, Jr., and John 
Doeden, the Eldest Burgesses, as also Heifert Papen, Recorder, 
proclamation being made, the jury was called and attested; jury- 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 49 

men : Peter Keurlis, James Kunders, Lenert Arets, Paul Wulff, 
Abraham Tunes, Walter Simens, Isaac Schumacher, Peter Cle- 
ver, Reiner Hermans, Antony Loof, William Strepers, Martin 
Seel. 

Johannes Roster's declaration against Johannes Pettinger 
was read, viz. : That the said Johannes Pettinger on the 19th of 
the nth month, 1694, at Germantown, did make an assault upon 
the said Johannes Koster, and him did pull, push, and evily 
handle against the King and Queen's peace, and to his the said 
Plaintiff's damage of three pounds, and thereof he brings suit, 
etc. The defendant's answer was that there was more in the 
plea than he had done. 

The witnesses, viz. : Philip Christian Zimmerman, Lorenz 
Marcus, Christian and Christiana Warner were attested and 
heard, and thereupon the jury did find for the plaintiff 2s." 

"James Delaplaine, Coroner, brought into the Court the 
names of the jury which he summoned the 24th day of the 4th 
month, 1701, viz.: Thomas W^illiams, foreman; Peter Keurlis, 
Herman op de Graeff, Reiner Peters, Peter Schumacher, Reiner 
Tisen, Peter Van Bon, John Umstett, Thomas Potts, Reiner 
Hermans, Dirck Johnson and Herman Turner." Their verdict 
was as follows: "We, the jury, find that through carelessness, 
the cart and the lime killed the man. the wheel wounded his 
back and head, and it killed him." 

It is qvnte evident that the people were without political 
aspirations, and that they felt themselves too busy to attend to 
the duties of public office. Conscientious scruples, native mod- 
esty, and hesitation to take a hand in the punishment of their 
fellow-townsman may have emphasized this disinclination. But 
whatever the cause, so frequent became the refusals to serve in 
office that fines for such refusals became necessary : 

"1700. The 7th day of the 9th month, Daniel Geissler re- 
fused to be Crier of the Court." 

"1701. The 7th day of the 9th month, John Lensen ap- 
peared in this Court, excusing himself from serving as Commit- 
teeman, because his conscience would not allow it.'' 

"1703. The nth of 3rd month, ^Matthews Milan being 
chosen Constable and he refusing to serve, is either to find 
another in his place, or to be fined according to law." 

It finally became so difficult to find persons willing to as- 



50 HISTORY OP OLD GBRMANTOWN 

stime these public functions, that, in 1707, the attempt at bor- 
ough government was given up,* and Germantown became again 
a part of the Germantownship.^ It so remained until in 1847, 
w^hen borough government was re-established. In the interim, 
all of the officials of Germantown were township officers and 
imder the immediate direction of the county authorities in Phila- 
delphia. An Act of Assembly of the 27th of February, 1840, 
divided Germantown Township into two wards. The Upper 
Ward was the part northwest of Washington Lane, the resi- 
dents of which voted at the Golden Swan, Germantown ave- 
nue and East McPherson avenue, then occupied by Joseph Price. 
The Lower Ward voters cast their ballots at the Union School 
House, located in School House Lane. The votes of both wards 
were counted the following day at the Washington Tavern. Feb- 
ruary 8, 1842, the two wards were made separate election districts, 
and then, in accordance with the "Supplement to an Act for the 
Incorporation of Borovighs as far as relates to the Borough of 
Germantown," the Lower Ward was re-established as the Bor- 
ough of Germantown and the first election for borough officers 
was held at the Union School House, March 19, 1847. The 
returns showed as elected : 

Burgess — Charles M. Stokes. 

Town Council for two years — AMlliam Wagner, John Ritten- 
house, Philip R. Freas, Samuel Y. Harmer. 

Town Council for one year — Philip Physick, Joseph Hands- 
berry, F. Wm. Bockius, Frederick Flemins. 

Daniel Gulp was elected Town Constable. 

The new Town Council held its first meeting Alarch 24, 
1847. Wm. Green wes selected by them as Town Clerk ; Abra- 
ham Gulp and William Toland, as Street Commissioners ; Joseph 
King, Jr., as Borough Surveyor; Thomas Magarge, as Borough 
Treasurer; Gideon Keyser, as Collector of Taxes for 1847; St. 
G. T. Camobell, as Borough Solicitor. The offices of the Insur- 



4 Their action was hastened, no doubt, by the refusal of the Queen's 
attorney of the Province to recognize their acts as legal. Whether his 
attitude was due to their not yet being naturalized citizens; to the diffi- 
culties into -which the Proprietor, who had granted them their charter, had 
gotten in England; or entirely to the attorney's own designs, is not clear. 

5 Nor did the difficulty end with the abandonment of borough govern- 
ment; for, as late as 1830 and 1831, we find such entries as the following 
in the records concerning the Germantown Poor House: 

"June 24, 1830, the Board (of Managers) received $20 from Peter Lei- 
bert for refusing to serve as Manager." 

"April 4, 1831, Christopher J. Jungkurth and Matthias Miller each paid 
$20 fine for not serving as Managers." 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



51 



ance Company of Germantown were rented for the Council 
meetings. 

Some of the most important items of business trans- 
acted by the new Borough before its consolidation with the 
City, in 1854, were: i. The improvement of the streets and the 
opening of new ones, and also the more accurate surveying of 
the streets. In 1850, John Trautwine, who was then Borough 




TOWN HALL, 

Surveyor, was authorized to make and have published an accu- 
rate map of the Borough. 2. The provision for the erection of 
a Town Hall and Lock Up on the IMarket Square adjoining the 
German Reformed Church." 3. The establishment, in June, 
1850, of the first police force for Germantown, by appointing two 
persons to assist the Town Constable at an annual salary of 
Sioo each. 



6 Because of opposition to the project, the building was not erected at 
this place; but it was built, at the expense of the city, at the time of Con- 
solidation, in its present location, at the corner of Main and West Haines 
streets. 



CHAPTER IV 



OCCUPATIONS OF THE EARLY INHABITANTS 

The most important industr}^ among the persecuted Mennon- 
ites was the art of weaving. The first settlers of Germantown 
brought this art with them and at once began to raise flax, from 
which they wove all sorts of linen goods. Richard Frame, in his 
poem entitled "A Short Description of Pennsylvania," published 
by Wm. Bradford in 1692, says : 

"The German Town of which I spoke before, 
Which is, at least, in length one mile and more. 
Where lives High German People, and Low Dutch, 
Whose Trade in weaving Linnin Cloth is much. 
There grows the Flax, as also you may know. 
That from the same they do divide the Tow." 

In 1688, Willem Rittinghuysen, one of a family of paper 
makers of JMuhlheim, near Cologne, landed in New York. As 
at that time there was no printer in New York, he came to 
Philadelphia where William Bradford had set up his press. 
Here, in 1690, on a branch of the Wissahickon in Germantown, 
Rittinghuysen built the first paper mill in the Colonies.^ 

Richard Frame said of him that he 

"From linnen Rags good paper doth derive." 

Bradford had the privilege of taking all "ye printing paper 
that they (Wm. Rittinghuysen and his son Klaas) made, and he 
shall take ye same at ten shillings per ream." Judging from 
John Holmes' poem, "A True Relation of the Flourishing State 
of Pensilvania," probably written in 1693, Bradford must at first 
have had an interest in this mill. He writes : 



iThe first paper mill in New England was built at Milton. Mass.. 1730, 
by Daniel Henchman, with legislative aid. But it was discontinued within 
a few years, probably from lack of a workman to carry it on. It may be 
interesting- to note that by 1770, In the colonies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey 
and Delaware, there were forty paper-mills, supposed to be making one 
hundred thousand pounds wortli of paper annually. At the breaking out 
of the Revolution, five years later, there -were three small paper-mills in 
Massachusetts, none in New Hampshire, and in Rhode Island one which 
was out of repair. See Munsell's "Chronology of Paper and Papermak- 
ing," p. 24. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 53 

"Here dwelt a printer, and I find 
That he can both print books and bind; 
He wants not paper, ink nor skill 
He's owner of a paper mill. 
The paper mill is here hard by 
And makes good paper frequently. 
But the printer, as I here tell, 
Is gone unto New York to dwell." 

Penn regarded this paper mill as of so much importance 
that, when it was swept away by a flood during his last visit 
to his colony, he addressed a letter to the inhabitants urging 
them to use every effort to have it rebuilt. After Rittinghuy- 
sen's death, the mill was carried on with even greater success 
by his son Klaas (Nicolas). 

As early as 1683, Richard Townsend had a grist mill in 
Germantown. This was the first mill for grinding grain in the 
county of Philadelphia. To it the inhabitants "Brought their 
grist on men's backs, save one man who had a tame bull that 
performed the labor." Garrett Rittenhouse had a grist mill on 
Cresheim Creek in 1697. But other occupations were repre- 
sented among the early settlers, especially agriculture and stock- 
raising, the two things at once necessary for sustenance. Pasto- 
rius says : "The inhabitants of this town are for most part hand- 
workers (craftsmen) Cloth, Fustian and linen weavers, tailors, 
shoemakers, locksmiths, carpenters, who however, all are ac- 
quainted with agriculture and cattle breeding." He did not 
have a very high opinion of their ability as farmers, however ; 
for he reports to the Frankfort Company in March, 1684, that 
"two hours from here (Philadelphia) lies our German town, 
where already forty-two persons live in twelve households, who 
are mostly linen weavers, and not too well skilled in the culture 
of the ground." But the soil was fertile and well-watered, 
Philadelphia was near, and the German community was firmly 
established ; hence, as Loeher says of Germantown, "It became 
now for a long time the resort of the Germans that they might 
establish themselves as dealers and artisans in Philadelphia, 
or as farmers (in the woods), though perhaps as much because 
some desired nothing Quakerish."- Many of them also began 
to cultivate the vine as they had done in the Rhine cotmtry. 
When Pastorius was asked to design a town seal, he chose a 



2 "Deutschen In Amerika," von Franz Loeher, Gottingen, 1855, p. 39. 



54 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 




GERMANTOWN SEAL. 



clover, placing on one leaf a vine, on another a bunch of flax, 
and on the third a weaver's spool ; accompanying it with the 
inscription "Viniim, Linum, et Textrinum." This, in the course 
of time, became to the Germans a clover with the device "Der 
Wein, der Lein, und der Webeschrein," and indicated to them 
the most promising industries of the Germans in the new land. 
Although Penn was greatly interested in grape-culture and 

very hopeful as to its prospects 
in his territory because, as he 
wrote to the Marquis of Halifax, 
the 9th of the 12th month, 1683, 
"Here grow wilde an incredible 
number of vines, that tho' sav- 
age and so not so excellent, be- 
sides that much wood and shade 
sower them, they yield a pleas- 
ant grape, and I have drunk a 
good clarett, though small and 
greenish, of Capt. Rappe's vin- 
tage of the savage grape ;" and, 
although Pastorius was so confident of the outcome of the in- 
dustry as to recommend his European friends to send along a 
supply of wine-barrels and vats of various sizes, the cultivation 
of the vine at first met with poor success. This was due, no 
doubt, to the fact that they endeavored to transplant the vari- 
ous European varieties of grapes to soil and climate conditions 
which were unfavorable to their growth. Hence this part of 
their town-seal soon came to have little meaning to them. 

A petition of the inhabitants of Germantown to the Pro- 
prietary, in 1 701, indicates several additional mdustries. In it 
they asked for a "surveyed road to enter the City stating they 
have none over Daniel Pegg's land and through Thomas Tison's 
Tobacco field at the North End of the City." They complained 
that they had been pushed out of several roads into woody and 
swampy grounds by the improvements, in a way highly danger- 
ous to their carts. They also state that they transport much malt, 
lime, and meal from three mills. A petition "To Council Held 
att phil 19th May 1698" shows that the burning of lime had 
already become an important industry — "petition of Nicholas 
Skull & others requesting that there may be an allowed rode 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 55 

from the Lime-kilns, for carting of Lime to phila, extending 
from the sd Lime-kihis Into pHmouth rode, near Cressom, where 
there is neither Improved Land, Hill nor water to impede." 

In 1716, Thomas Rutter, a smith who lived near German- 
town, "set upon making iron." The exact name of his forge or 
bloomery is not known, but it was the first in the Province, as 
seems clear from the following obituary in the Pennsylvania 
Gazette for March, 5 to 13, 1729-30: "March 13th — On Sunday 
night last died here, Thomas Rutter, Sr., after a short illness. 
He was the first that erected an iron-work in Pa." 

Mrs. James in her "IMemorial of Thomas Potts, Junior," says 
that Rutter was an English Quaker who removed from Ger- 
mantown "forty miles up the Schuylkill, in order to work the 
iron mines of the Manatawny region." The founding of the 
forge she gives as it was described in a letter of Jonathan Dick- 
inson's, written in 1717: "This last summer one Thomas Rut- 
ter, a smith, who lives not far from Germantown, hath re- 
moved further up in the country, and of his own strength hath 
set upon making iron. Such it proves to be, as is highly set 
by by all the smiths here, who say that the best of Sweed's iron 
doth not exceed it." James M. Swank, in his "History of the 
Manufacture of Iron in All Ages," gives as the location of this 
forge a point three miles above Pottstown on the Manatawny 
Creek. ^Irs. James says it was called the Pool Forge ; but Swank 
doubts this and thinks it more likely was called Manatawny 
Forge, for in the Philadelphia Weekly Mercury of November 
I, 1720, appeared an advertisement for the recovery of one 
Thomas Fare, a Welshman, who was said to have run away 
from "the forge at Manatawny." Bishop has the same idea; 
for he says, "A forge is also mentioned, in March 1719-20, at 
Manatawny, then in Philadelphia, but now in Berks or ]\Iont- 
gomery Co. It was attacked by the Indians in 1728, but they 
were repulsed with great loss by the workmen."-'' 

Before the Revolution the tanning industry had become of 
some importance to Germantown, and the tan-yard of Peter 
Keyser, father of the Dunker preacher, was the scene of a 
fierce conflict during the Battle of Germantown as is evident 
from the bullet-riddled fence still standing on the property.* 



3"History of American Manufactures." — Bishop, Vol. I, p. 552. 
4Now tlie home of Elwood Johnson. 



56 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



The manufacture of pottery was also a Germantown industry 
before the Revohition. After the Revolution Germantown 
became noted for a superior make of wool known as German- 
town Wool, and the woolen stockings knit by the inhabitants 
came into great demand.^ But these were not the only woolen 
manufactures engaged in by the early settlers of Germantown. 
"The old home of the woolen industry was Holland, and Eng- 
land had received her best workers in wool from that country; 




BULLET-RIDDLED FENCE 



so that the colonies had men entirely familiar with weaving. 
The Virginia colony was the first to introduce sheep, while 
the Dutch AVest India Companv brought them to New Nether- 
lands as early as 1625." But. "The colonists of New Netherlands 
could not make woolen, linen, or cotton cloth, or weave any 
other textiles, and this prohibition was under heavy penalty, 



5"The most direct way to Germantown, is to pass up Third street, at 
the extremity of which you meet the turnpike road, and at tlie distance 
of six miles from the city, reach that healthful village. There are to be 
had the Avell-known ■woolen hosiery, which bear the name of the to^vn, 
manufactured in the families of the German settlers."- — Mease's "Pictures 
of Philadelphia," 1824. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOIVN 57 

any one making such goods being banished and arbitrarily 
punished as perjurers. This was the restriction of the home 
government."" 

There were no such restrictions in Penn's colony and, as 
the Germantown settlers were skilled artisans, their industrial 
progress was rapid from the first. Penn seems to have offered 
a premium to stimulate interest in the production of cloth ; for, 
on the 17th of the yth month, 1686, a petition from Abraham 
Op den Graeff, of Germantown, was read in the Colonial Council 
"for the governor's promise to him who should make the first 
and finest piece of linen cloth." He also encouraged the holding 
of fairs at stated intervals for the purpose of furnishing a ready 
market for domestic products;^ so that, as early as 1698, we 
find that the colonists were producing not only linen and hempen 
goods, but also druggets, serges, crepes, camblets, kerseys, 
linsey-woolseys, etc. The earliest settlers found their market 
for such goods in Philadelphia. "The linen sellers and weavers 
used to stand with the goods for sale on the edgQ of the pave- 
ment in Market street, on the north side, near to Second street 
corner.'' — Watson. Wigart Levering, who was one of German- 
town's earliest settlers, set up, in what is now Roxborough, a 
loom for the weaving of all of these goods, thus laying the 
foundation of one of the largest manufacturing plants of our 
later days. ^Matthew Houlgate had a fulling-mill in operation 
on the AVissahickon, near Germantown, before the year 1720. 

But the factory system and improved machinery had not 
yet made their appearance. All of these occupations were largely 
home industries and quite commonly carried on by members 
of the family in connection with other employments. Con- 
sequently, the materials produced were more or less crude and 
unfinished, most of the woolen cloth being worn without shear- 
ing, pressing, or other finish. As such luxuries as soft and 
soothing underwear were unknown, any of our worthy ancestors 
who were so unfortunate as to be tender-skinned needed, while 
dressed in the woolen cloth of that dav, no hair-cloth shirts to 
remind them of their need of doing penance. But the finest 
products of their flax-fields were a matter of great pride to them, 
and we read that the other woven goods "daily improved in 

oWright's "Industrial Evolution of the United States," pp. 43-45. 
'Watson says "On the 20th of October, 1746, a great public fair was 
held at Germantown." 



58 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 

quality." Their manufacture, at least, afforded employment to 
a rapidly increasing number of dyers, fullers, combmakers, 
cardmakers, weavers, spinners, etc., who having attained excep- 
tional skill in some one of these lines, .came at last to adopt it 
as their sole occupation. "The price, in 1688, for spinning worsted 
or linen, we are told, was usually two shillings the pound, and 
for knitting coarse yarn stockings, half a crown a pair. The 
price for weaving linen of half a yard in width was ten or twelve 
pence per yard. Wool combers or carders received twelve shill- 
ings per week and 'their diet.' "^ 

The great improvements in the clumsy wagons and car- 
riages of colonial days made by Wm. Ashmead and the Bring- 
hursts, caused the building of vehicles to become one of Ger- 
mantown's most profitable industries in the early part of the 
Nineteenth Century. These improvements represented a com- 
parative increase of comfort in traveling which is difficult for us to 
appreciate in these days of luxurious dining cars and sleeping 
coaches. We are apt to measure the colonists by the phenomenal 
industrial progress of our own day and thus to forget that they 
were both energetic and progressive. The Dutch had, previous 
to 1670, developed the old foot and hand-power loom, which 
contains the essential features of our modern power-looms and 
which was as great an advance over the ancient weaving in 
fixed frames as the power-loom is over the loom of their inven- 
tion. They had also by that time made so many other improve- 
ments in the manufacture of cloth as to make their country 
the great center of that industry. But their inventive genius 
also followed other lines. Guicciardini, an Italian, who lived 
among them for forty years, said of them, in 1563, "They have 
a special and happy talent for the ready invention of all sorts 
of machines, ingenious and suitable for facilitating, shortening, 
and dispatching everything they do, even in the matter of cook- 
ing." The English imbibed from the Dutch much of this spirit 
of improvement and from the latter part of the Eighteenth Cen- 
tury on have added their full share to labor-saving and labor- 
perfecting inventions. 

But there were scholars and noted public men as well as 
artisans among the earlier inhabitants of Germantown. "The 
settlers were in no way coarse people ; the ]\Iennonites appre- 



8"History of American Manufactures." — Bishop, Vol. I, p. 317. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 59 

ciated enlightenment and were themselves also closely related to 
the higher rank."" In 1668, in a private letter to King Charles II, 
Colonel Francis Lovelace bears the same testimony in regard to 
the Dutch settlers of New York; for in it he says, "I find some 
of these people have the breeding of courts, and I cannot con- 
ceive how such is acquired. "^° 

Pastorius had travelled extensively and was one of the 
best linguists of his day. Loeher says that he remained Penn's 
intimate friend and that Penn wrote to Pastorius's father that 



,;?> Mere f.. fcH<.t -»,.j.r./j "- flic .'):.^c'.,.r,<rr. < , ■• -^ '-/•;"//,,;. 

' ^-t.-^,':^~UyC^. vn;.., (rut ratAcr (^^<A. f..^,.^^^ A^^'^ ^.-«^.... - 

I ^^/fn/L /.^^C- Arc ^_^V ,?V/ /.-^c. ..V ,^i .--- '^«' ^;y ■■ "" ^ ' ' J 






V ^'^ . 

FAC-SIMILE OF A LETTER FROM FRANCIS DANIEL PASTORIUS 
TO HIS SON HENRY 

"the Francis Daniel" was "a zealous, upright, wise and pious 
man."" Pastorius prepared "A new Primmer," which contained 
directions and exercises for the spelling, reading and writing of 
English. It was dedicated to Wm. Penn and was published in 
New York in 1698. This was the first school book which was 
both written and printed in America." The Supplement to Joseph 



o"Deutschen in Amerika," von Franz Loeher. 

10 Lamb's "History of the City of New York," Vol. I, p. 243. 

11 With the exception of the books adapted by Eliot to the use of the 
Indians. Hodder's Arithmetic, the first New England text-book, was not 
published until 1719. 



6o HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

Smith's Catalogue of Friends' Books says the "Minutes of the 
Philadelphia Monthly Meeting show the purchase of a large 
number for use in the Friends' schools." Pastorius was also 
the author of some fifty other books and pamphlets, some pub- 
lished during his lifetime, the remainder left in manuscript. 
P)esides holding at various times many borough offices, he was 
County Judge and a member of the Assembly. In 1688, he 
wrote the famous protest against slavery. This was at a time 
when not only negroes but Indians and also whites were being 
sold into slavery even in New England.^- Dr. Rush thought this 
protest of far-reaching influence, for, in 1798, he wrote, "The 
opinions concerning the commerce and slavery of the Africans, 
which have nearly produced a revolution in their favour in 
some of the European governments, were transplanted from 
a sect of christians in Pennsylvania." 

Benjamin Furley, in his suggestions to Penn "For the Se- 
curity of Foreigners Who May Incline to Purchase Land in 
Pensilvania," says "Let no blacks be brought in directly. And 
if any come out of Virginia, Maryland or elsewhere in families 
that have formerly bought them elsewhere let them be de- 
clared (as in ye west jersey constitution) free at 8 years end." 
Although Penn did not formally adopt this suggestion, and the 
Monthly and Yearly Meetings to which the Pastorius protest 
was submitted had not yet reached the advanced position of 
the signers of that protest on the question of slavery, the Friends 
were among the first to free their slaves, and Penn was con- 
stantly urging that provision be made for the spiritual ^welfare 
of both negroes and Indians. George Keith wrote an "Ex- 
hortation against buying Negroes," which was printed by Wm. 
Bradford, in 1693. The German settlers never took kindly to 
the keeping of slaves, and the emancipation law, passed in 1780, 
which provided for the gradual abolition of slavery in Pennsyl- 
vania, did not find a single slave in the possession of a Friend. 
By 1820, there were no slaves in the entire Germantown town- 
ship, although there were still a number in Philadelphia. The 
predominating influence of the Friends and Germans on this 
subject led to the passage of an act by the Colonial Assembly 
of Pennsylvania, as early as 171 1, to prohibit the importation 
of slaves into the colony. But it failed to secure the necessar}' 



12 Massachusetts did not abolish slavery until 1780. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



6i 



ratification in England, owing to the great profits of English 
ships which visited the coasts of Africa for the purpose of kid- 
napping slaves. 

James Logan, Penn's Secretary and confidential adviser, 
built his colonial mansion, "Stenton," practically within the 
limits of Germantown. Logan was greatly revered by the Li- 
dians and was one of the finest scholars of his day. The ex- 
cellent library of rare books wdiich he collected at Stenton formed 
the nucleus of the famous Loganian Library.^' Christopher Saur, 
in 1 73 1, built, in Germantown, a mansion in which he dispensed 





STENTON 

medicine, having studied and practised in a large dispensary in 
Halle, Germany, for five years. Although he had not learned 
printing, at the earnest solicitation of his friends who felt the 
need of a German press, he took charge of the printing-press 
which they imported from Germany in 1738. Bishop gives the 
date as 1735, and says that in that year Saur began the publi- 
cation of a "Quarterly Journal, in the German language, the 
first publication of the kind in a foreign tongue in this country."^* 



13 Now the Library Company of Philadelphia, Locust and Juniper 
Streets. 

14 "The Hochdeutsch Pennsilvanien Geschichtsschreiber." Bishop claims 
that a complete file of this first German newspaper was still in the posses- 
sion of one of Saur's descendants in 1861. The first issue ("Erster Stueck") 
bears the date of August 20, 1739. 



62 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



It was afterwards changed to a monthly, and, after 1744, to a 
weekly paper. The Germantown Gazette, and was continued 
by his son until the Revolutionary War. Seidenstecker also 
claims that Saur published the first German newspaper in 
the Colonies, but gives the date as Oct. 20, 1739. In February, 
1746, he began the publication of the first religious magazine^^ 




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TITLE PAGE OP A SAUR ALMANAC 



issued in America ; his press from the beginning being largely 
employed upon religious and educational publications. 

Saur also published the first German Almanac in Pennsyl- 
vania and, in 1743, after three years of labor, he issued his famous- 



15 Its title pag-e reads, "Ein Schall und Gegenschall der Wahrheit und 
des g-esundten Verstandes Christllebender Seelen in Diesen Americanische 
land tlieil." 



HISTORY OP OLD GERMANTOWN 63 

edition of the Bible in German. This was thirty-nine years before 
Robert Aitkin pubHshed the first EngHsh edition printed in 
America. Besides, Saur's Bible was a quarto of 1,272 pages, 
"by far the heaviest publication which had yet been issued from 
the press in Pennsylvania, and was not equalled for many years 
after." Christopher Saur, the second, issued a second edition 
of 2000 volumes of this quarto Bible in 1763, and a third edition 
of 3000 volumes in 1776. Saur's purpose in publishing the 
Bible, he states in a letter to the Governor of Pennsylvania, was 
to furnish his countrymen with copies of the Scriptures ; for he 
says that they "were ill supplied with Bibles" at that time. He 
accordingly placed a moderate price on them and offered to 
furnish them to the poor gratuitously. "The price of our newly- 
finished Bible in plain binding, with a clasp, will be eighteen 
shillings ; but to the poor and the needy we have no price." As 
all printing type was at this time imported from Europe, and 
hence very expensive, Saur began to manufacture type in Ger- 
mantown. He thus established there the first type-foundry in 
America.^'' He also made his own printing-ink. His son and 
only child, Christopher, known as Christopher Saur (or Sower) 
the second, continued and enlarged the publishing business. 
"The book manufactory of Christopher Sower the second, was 
for many years by far the most extensive in the British American 
colonies. It employed several binderies, a paper-mill, an ink- 
manufactory, and a foundry for German and English type."^'^ 
The printing business thus established in Germantown by Saur, 
and which is still carried on in Philadelphia by his descendants, 
is the oldest existing publishing house in the United States. 

It is interesting to note, in connection with the printing of 
the first English edition of the Bible in America, that William 
Bradford contemplated printing such an edition, in Philadelphia, 
by subscription, as early as 1688. This fact was accidentally 
discovered by Nathan Kite, a Friend, about one hundred and 
fifty years after it occurred, while he was examining an old 
quarto edition of the Bible in the Library of the Friends Meeting 
at 304 Arch street. Noticing that the white paper on the inside 
cover had printing on the reverse side, he carefully loosened 
it and found that it contained the following proposal : 



10 Dr. Julius P. Sachse disputes liis point. See liis "German Sectarians," 
Vol. II, p. 45. 

1" Bishop's "History of American Manufactures," Vol. I, p. 182. 



64 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 

"Proposals for the Printing of a Large Bible by William 

Bradford 

These are to give notice, that it is proposed for a large house-Bible 
to be Printed by way of Subscription (a method usual in England for 
the Printing of large Volumes, because Printing is very changeable) that 
to all who are willing to forward so good (and great) a Work as the 
printing of the holy Bible, are offered these proposals, viz.: 

1. That it shall be printed in a fair Character, on good Paper, and 
well bound. 

2. That it shall contain the Old and New Testament, with the 
Apocraphy, and all to have useful marginal notes. 

3. That it shall be allowed (to them that subscribe) for Twenty 
Shillings per Bible (A Price which one of the same volume in England 
would cost). 

4. That the pay shall be half Silver Money, and half Country Pro- 
duce at money price. One half down now, and the other half on the 
delivery of the Bibles. 

5. That those who do subscribe for six, shall have the seventh 
gratis, and have them delivered one month before any above that num- 
ber shall be sold to others. 

6. To those which do not subscribe, the said Bibles will not be 
allowed under 2C s. a piece. 

7. Those who are minded to have the Common Prayer, shall have 
the whole bound up for 22 s. and those that do not subscribe, 28 s. and 
6 d. per Book. 

8. That as encouragement is given by Peoples Subscribing and pay- 
ing down one half, the said work will be put forward with what Expedi- 
tion may be. 

9. That the Subscribers may enter their Subscriptions and time of 
Payment, at Pheneas Pemberton's and Robert Hall's in the County of 
Bucks, at Malen Stacy's Mill at the Falls, at Thomas Budd's House in 
Burlington, at John Hasting's in the County of Chester, at Edward Blake's 
in New Castle, at Thomas Woodroofs in Salem, and at William Bradford's 
in Philadelphia, Printer and Undertaker of the said work. At which 
places the Subscribers shall have a Receipt for so much of their sub- 
scriptions paid, and an obligation for the delivery of the number of 
Bibles (so Printed and Bound as aforesaid) as the respective Subscriber 
shall deposit one half for. 

Also this may further give notice that Samuel Richardson and 
Samuel Carpenter of Philadelphia, are appointed to take care and be 
assistant in the laying out of the Subscription Money, and to see that 
it be employ'd to the use intended, and consequently that the whole 
Work be expedited. Which is promised in Philadelphia, the 14th of the 
1st month, 1688. William Bradford." 

Althotigh these Bibles were not printed, owing- to difficul- 
ties into which Bradford soon got with the authorities, and later 
on in church controversies, and which led him to remove to 
New York, it is worth noting that Bradford's proposition ante- 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



65 



dates Cotton Mather's proposition to print the Bible, some 
forty years. 

Peter Leibert and Michael Billmaier published a collection 
of "edifying songs," in German town, in 1787. Each of them 
afterwards published various editions of the Psalter and of 
other religious works. 

David Rittenhouse, grandson of the first American paper- 
maker, was born in Germantown on the 8th of April, 1732. He 
became a noted mathematician and one of the most successful 
astronomical observers of his time. While but a mere boy, 




DAVID RITTENHOUSE 



"His plough, the fences, and even the stones of the field in 
which he worked, were frecjuently marked with figures which 
denoted a talent for mathematical studies. "^^ He had a great 
genius for mechanics and constructed an orrery to illustrate the 
relative size and position, as well as the periodic movements, of 
the planetary system. It was more extensive and complete than 
any made by former astronomers and was used for many years 
by the college at Princeton. A second one was made by him, 
after the same model, for use in the College of Philadelphia ; it 
now forms a part of the philosophical apparatus of the University 



18 See "Essays" by Benj. Rush, M. D., PhUadelphia, 1798. 



66 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

of Pennsylvania. Rittenhouse also played a prominent part in 
the affairs of his day — as Vice-President of the Commtitee of 
Safety during the Revolution, as State Treasurer from 1777 to 
1779, and as Franklin's successor to the Presidency of the Philo- 
sophical Society. During this time, he was employed to deter- 
mine the latitude and longitude that fixed the northern and the 
western boundaries of Pennsylvania, and was also a member 
of the commission appointed to adjust the boundary between 
Pennsylvania and Virginia (now West Virginia). In 1769, he 
helped to determine the boundary between New York and New 
Jersey and, in 1787, he performed the same service for New York 
and Massachusetts. He was also the first director of the Phila- 
delphia Mint , and it was due to his arduous eft'orts that its 
work was so successfully organized. The Mint at this time 
was located on the east side of Seventh street near Filbert, and 
Rittenhouse lived at the northwest corner of Seventh and 
Arch streets. He died here in 1796, and was buried under- 
neath the astronomical observatory which he had erected in the 
yard of the property. Some years afterwards the body was re- 
moved to the graveyard connected with the Third Presbyterian 
Church at Fourth and Pine Streets. Renwick says of him, "We 
should place him in point of scientific merit second to Franklin 
alone. * * * He had shown himself the equal in point of learning 
and skill as an observer to any practical astronomer then living." 
Thomas Godfrey, the inventor of the quadrant, was born 
in 1704, near Germantown, on what became later the Spen- 
cer farm. He was one of the first members of the famous 
Junto Club, and Benjamin Franklin, who was the originator 
of it, calls him "a skillful though self-taught mathematician, 
and the inventor afterwards of what is named 'Hadley's Dial.' '' 
James Logan, writing of Godfrey, says "the first time I 
ever saw or heard of him to my knowledge, he came to borrow 
Sir Isaac Newton's Principia, and after a little discourse 
he soon became welcome to that or any other book I had." 
Then he adds, "this young man about eighteen months since 
told me that he had for some time been thinking of an instru- 
ment for taking distances of stars." Logan asserts in a letter 
to a friend that Godfrey's invention of the quadrant was two 
years prior to the making of the form of the quadrant known 
as "Hadley's Dial." That the idea of the quadrant was sug- 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



67 




THOMAS GODFREY'S SUN DIAL 



gested to Godfrey by a piece of broken glass upon which the 
sun was shining, while he was repairing a broken window in 
Logan's house, seems to be an apochyrphal yarn lacking con- 
firmation. 

Gilbert Stuart, a pupil of Benjamin West's, came to Phila- 
delphia, in 1794, because of his desire to paint a portrait of 
W'ashington. He took up his residence in Germantown, where 
he remained until Congress moved to Washington ; when he 
also moved to that place. Watson says, "his dwelling was the 
same as that now^^ occu])ied by David Styer." His studio was 
in the barn in the rear and had but one window in it.-'' It was 
here that he executed his famous head of Washington, as well 
as the full-length portrait afterwards engraved by Heath — al- 
though Watson's account seems to indicate that Washington 
sat for the latter at the house of Mrs. Bingham. Charles Wilson 
Peale, who had also been a pupil of West's, removed his family 
from the City to "Belfield," which is just beyond Fisher's Lane 



19 About the year 1830. It is the property at 5140 Germantown avenue. 

20 This barn was destroyed by fire in 1854; but the walls which after- 
wards were partly covered in were allowed to remain until quite recently. 



68 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAN TOWN 



Station, during the troubled days of the Revolution. Wash- 
ington, at the request of the Supreme Executive Council, sat 
for a portrait to Peak in 1779. This is the portrait from which 
the artist the next year made a mezzotint engraving. The por- 
trait itself was destroyed by the British. Peale's studio was at 
Third and Lombard streets, Philadelphia. Owing to his passion 
for collecting curios and objects of natural history, this grew 




PORTRAIT OP GILBERT STUART 

too small for him and he removed to Philosophical Hall, Fifth 
below Chestnut street, in 1796. In 1802, he displayed his splendid 
collection of curiosities and works of art in the State House, the 
second floor and east room of which he had secured for that 
purpose. In one room he showed over one hundred portraits 
of eminent persons painted by himself and his son Rembrandt. 
When his gallery was sold, in 1853, the City purchased the 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOIVN 69 

rarest of his portraits for Independence Hall. In April, 1816, 
Peale advertised that his museum would be lighted with gas, 
"gas-lights burning without wick or oil." This was a great 
novelty, but regarded as so dangerous that Councils soon disap- 
proved of his manufacturing gas in the State House, and warned 
him that he would be held responsible for any damage that 
misht ensue. 




CHARLES Vv'ILLSON PEALE 

Commodore James Barron, who served with distinction dur- 
ing the War of 1812 and who was in command at the Philadelphia 
Navy Yard from August 11, 1824, to May 6, 1825, and again 
from May 20. 183 1, to July 3, 1837,-^ became a resident of Ger- 
mantown soon after the unfortunate duel in which he killed 
Commodore Decatur. 



^1 From the official records through the courtesy of Capt. T. C. McLean, 

U. S. N. 



70 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

John Fanning Watson, "the Annahst," became cashier of 
the Bank of Germantown in the year 1814, at which time 
he took up his residence in Germantown. He held this posi- 
tion for over thirty years, when he resigned to become secre- 
tary and treasurer of the Philadelphia, Germantown and 
Norristown Railroad. His "Annals of Philadelphia" was first 
published in 1830, but was revised and published in two volumes 
in 1842, and in 1856 it was again revised. He also wrote annals 
of New York city and of New York state, as well as of the state 
of Pennsylvania. In addition, he was the author of a dictionary 
of poetical quotations and of works on theology. He died De- 
cember 23, i860. 

William Ashmead, a Germantown blacksmith, conceived the 
idea of an open front and much lighter carriage than the great 
lumbering coaches of his day. The first carriage he built was 
hired out by the day and kept very busy until it was bought 
and taken to the South. Others were then made and sold, and the 
Bringhursts, who up to this time had been chaise-makers, took 
up their manufacture and further extended the improvements. 
Watson wrote, "Germantown has been pre-eminent for its su- 
perior build of carriages and vehicles, but in late years the work- 
men of Newark have drawn off the business by their reduced 
prices." Ashmead also made himself a plough with a wrought- 
iron mould-board. This great improvement over the old style 
wooden mould-board was so much admired by Lafayette that 
he had four of the improved ploughs made for his LaGrange 
farm in France. Ashmead did not patent his idea, and some one 
took the hint from it to make the cast-iron mould-boards that 
are now so universally used on ploughs. Lack of space permits 
the mere mention of Abraham Rex. of Chestnut Hill, and Leonard 
Stoneburner, of Germantown. who, Watson claims, were the 
first to use plaster of Paris and cloverseed on their farms ; Cap- 
tain Douglass Ottinger, inventor of "the life-car," who was born 
in Germantown in 1804; Louisa Alcott, who was born in Ger- 
mantown and whose father resided there for several years after 
her birth ; Samuel Longfellow, brother of the poet, who was 
for several years pastor of the Unitarian Church in Germantown ; 
and precludes referring to the many residents of this beautiful 
suburban town who within more recent years liave been well 
known in the business, political or literary world. 



CHAPTER V 



RELIGION 

The early settlers were a religious people ; in fact, they 
had been attracted to Pennsylvania largely because, in his invi- 
tations to settlers and in the "Laws Agreed upon in England By 
the Governeur and Divers of the Freemen of Pennsylvania," 
Penn had guaranteed freedom of worship to all. In these laws 




MENNONITE CHURCH 



he says, "That all Persons living in this Province who confess 
and acknowledge the One Almighty and Eternal God to be the 
Creator Upholder and Ruler of the World, and that hold them- 
selves obliged in Conscience to live peaceably and cjuietly in 
Civil Society, shall in no wayes be molested or prejudiced for 
their Religious Persuasion or Practice in matters of Faith and 
Worship, nor shall they be compelled at any time to frequent 
or maintain any Religious W^Drship, Place or ^linistry whatever. '^ 
This seemed like freedom almost to the point of laxity in those 
days, but meetings were at once established by the settlers, the 



72 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 



first ones being held in private houses. In 1686, the first church 
building was erected. It was probably a Friends' meeting 
house and of wood. This meeting seems to have been organized 
in the house of Thones Kunders as early as 1683. The log 
church was replaced by a stone structure in 1705. 

The following record, in the 
minutes of the Philadelphia 
Meeting, indicates that that 
body assisted in this work : 
"ist month, 1705. Daniel Pas- 
torius and Arnett Clinken 
from Germantown, request the 
assistance of this Meeting 
towards their building a new 
meeting-house, which ffriends^ 
seem very ready and willing 
to do, and it is agreed that 
a subscription may be begun 
at the beginning of the next 
monthly meeting." The build- 
ing fronted on the Main street and was within the limits of 
the present graveyard of the Friends' Meeting. Pastorius, 
although a Pietist, had evidently allied himself with the Friends' 
Meeting in Germantown from the first. 

A log church for the Mennonites was built some time be- 
tween 1703 and 1708- on ground given for that purpose by Arnold 
Van Vossen. Their first preacher was Wm. Rittenhouse. The 
following is the list of the members belonging at that time : 




OLD MENNONITB COMMUNION 
TABLE 



Wynant Bowman 
Ann Bowman 
Cornelius Claassen 
Peter Conrad 
Civilia Conrad 
Gertrude Conrad 
Johannes Conrad 
Jacob Godsclialk and wife 
Joliannes Gorgas 
Margaret Huberts 
Conrad Jolmson and wife 
Harmen Kasdorp and wife 
Martin Kolb and wife 



Heinrich Kassel and wife 
Johannes Krey 
Helena Krey 
Paul Klumpges 
Johannes Kolb 
Jacob Kolb 
Barbara Kolb 
Arnold Kuster 
Elizabeth Kuster 
Hermannus Kuster 
Peter Keyser 
Catherine Kasselberg 
Jan Lensen 



initial letters to take tlie place of capitals 



iThe practice of doublins 
was common at tliis time. 

2Watson in liis Annals of Pliiladelpliia, gives 1709 as the date. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



73 



Jan Neuss 

Hans Neuss 

Wm. Rittenhouse and wife 

Altien Rebenstock 

Mary Sellen 

Hendrick Sellen 

Hermen Tuynen 

Mary Tuynen 

Margaret Tyson 



Altien Tyson 
Christopher Timmerman 
Civilia Van Vossen 
Arnold Van Vossen 
Isaacs Jacob Van Bebber 
Jacob Isaacs Van Bebber 
Isaac Van Sintern and wife 
Sarah Van Sintern 



The present church was built in 1770, as the date stone in 
the front gable indicates. 

Twenty families of Dunkers, or German Baptists, came 
from Germany, in 1719, and settled in Germantown. Christopher 
Lehman claims that their first church building was the log 




DUNKER CHURCH AND SEXTON'S HOI^SE 



house of John Pettikofler, and that it stood in front of where 
the present building stands. He further states that, this being 
the first house in that part of the Germantownship and Petti- 
koffer having begged the materials for it, the early inhabitants 
called this portion of their settlement "Beggarstown."^ Between 
1719 and 1729, the whole of the Dimker sect came to America 
and formed many prosperous settlements in Pennsylvania and 
the adjoining colonies. IMany schisms occurred in this sect ; 
one of them gathered about Conrad Beissel at Ephrata and 



3Sachse denies this. See his "German Sectarians of Pennsylvania, 1708- 
1742, p. 21s. See also a further discussion in the History of the Dunker 
Church, g-iven in Vol. II of the present work. 



74 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

formed there a communal brotherhood which estabhshed the 
Monastery of Ephrata. They were German Seventh Day Bap- 
tists, and had many curious customs. Lehman speaks of how 
"they used to dress all alike, and without hats, and covered their 
heads with hoods of their cloaks, which were a kind of gray 
surtout, like the Dominican friars, also girt about the waist, and 
barefooted with sandals. Old persons now living remember 
when forty or fifty of them would come thus attired on a 
religious visit to Germantown, walking silently in Indian file 
and all with long beards." They set up a printing press and 
a bindery at Ephrata and had many intelligent men among their 
numbers. The church in Germantown was one of the strongest 
and most prosperous ones connected with the Dunker faith. 
Christopher Saur, founder of the noted publishing house, was 
an elder in this church. 

In 1694, there arrived in Germantown a band of about forty 
Pietists who were not only followers of Spener but also had 
absorbed much of the mystical theology of Jacob Boehm, "the 
inspired shoemaker of Goerlitz." They had embarked under the 
leadership of John Jacob Zimmerman, but he died on the way 
and Henry Bernard Koster then became leader. They 
tarried in Germantown for about two months, when, having 
received a gift of land on "the Ridge." near what is now Rox- 
borough, they settled there and established a community known 
by the peculiar name of "The Society of the Woman of the 
Wilderness." This name was adopted because they believed 
in the near approach of the Second Coming of Christ leaning 
on the arm of the "woman of the wilderness," as referred to in 
Rev. XII, 6. The community soon became more or less scat- 
tered, many of its number settling in Germantown. Among 
these were Daniel Falkner, Henry Lorenz, Peter Schaeffer. and 
Ludwig Biderman. The latter in order to marry Zimmerman's 
daughter, Maria Margaretta, separated from the community and 
took up his residence in Germantown. Another of their band, 
Johannes Kelpius, "The Hermit of the Wissahickon," spent most 
of his time apart from them in prayer in a cave, near the banks 
of the Wissahickon. A cave still exists which is pointed out 
as Kelpius' Cave, but there is some doubt as to its being the 
one occupied by him. Kelpius left a Journal in which he kept 
a copy of some of the most valued letters of his voluminous cor- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 75 

respondence. One of these is a very interesting twenty-two 
page letter in German, written to Maria Elizabeth Gerber, of 
Virginia, Oct. 10, 1704. Another is an English missive of eleven 
pages, written to Hester Palmer, in which he describes the 
"Threefold Wilderness State." — See Sachses "German Pietists." 

Doctor Witt, a noted Germantown physician, from 
frequent visits to Kelpius and John Seelig (Latin Seligius), 
another of these mystical Pietists who was known as "the 
last of the hermits," adopted many of their beliefs and prac- 
tices. Although he was a man of science and a great trav- 
eller, he was superstitious and credulous and anticipated many 
of the beliefs of the Spiritualists of our day. He is said to 
have taught Christian Lehman and Henry Fraley the mys- 
teries of the horoscope, and to have "cast nativities" and prac- 
tised divining. He came to be known as a "majus," diviner, or 
conjurer. He is buried near the chancel in St. Michael's 
Church in High street. 

An interesting though pathetic episode in the history of 
these German Sectarians, is furnished by the life of Peter Cor- 
nelius Plockhoy, of Zurick Zee, who in his last days lived in 
Germantown. Plockhoy believed in the equality and brother- 
hood of man, and that great advantages were to be derived from 
living in communal houses and from working in common. He 
secured the attention of the great Protector, Oliver Cromwell, 
to his plans ; but, unfortunately Cromwell died before acting in 
the matter. Plockhoy then printed a pamphlet setting forth his 
views, in 1659, with which he unsuccessfully petitioned Parlia- 
ment. He now turned his thought towards the New World as 
the most favorable place in which to test his plans. As the 
Dutch then owned New Netherlands, he selected a place on the 
South River* for his settlement, and published a pamphlet at 
Amsterdam, in 1662, setting forth his plan and inviting settlers. 
The same year he reached the shores of the Delaware with 
twenty-four Mennonite companions and began a settlement 
which they called "Swaanandal," the Valley of the Swans. But 
war soon broke out between England and Holland ; and a boat 
was sent out from an English fleet, which, under Sir Robert 
Carr, had entered the Delaware, and carried ofif or destroyed 
all that "belonged to the Quaking Society of Plockhoy to a very 



4 The Delaware; the Hudson being the North River. 



76 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAN TOWN 

naile." What became of the remainder of the people is un- 
known ; but, in 1694, the unfortunate Plockhoy, poor and bhnd, 
appeared with his wife in Germantown and was given his citizen- 
ship free of charge. They were, also given a small lot on 
which to build a little house and where they might have a small 
garden. Jan Doeden and William Rittinghausen then took up 
a free-will collection to have the house built. ^ 



5 See Vol II. for a full account of Plockhoy in Germantown. 



CHAPTER VI 



SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS 

Although the early settlers of Germantown were undoubt- 
edly of the better class of German immigrants, some seventeen 
years elapsed before they organized a school for their children. 
Conditions in Germany before their emigration had been adverse 
to education, and the arduous life of the new settlement did not 
foster thought upon the subject. But, in 1701, that veteran 
scholar, Pastorius, did organize a school which he conducted 
until his death in 1719. Aret Klincken, Paul Wulff and Peter 
Schumacher, Jr., were the "overseers" who collected the sub- 
scriptions and provided for the opening of the school. Pastorius' 
sons, in a letter to their grandfather, state that they attended 
S'chool for eight hours each day except on Saturday when they 
had school only in the morning. The following entry in the 
minutes of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting indicates that 
Pastorius taught a Friends' school in Philadelphia previous to 
1701 : "28th day of the nth month 1697. Samuel Carpenter 
makes Report to this meeting that several ffriends met together 
according to the Desire of the last monthly meeting to treat 
with Daniel Pastorius and Thomas Makins for keepmg a Public 
School. And the fifriends then met agreed with them, provided 
the meeting approved the same. That the monthly meeting 
engage to Pay them Forty Pounds each year during the time 
they continue in the said School, iYriends providing a school 
house. Which being approved of, the Money is to be raised 
by way of Subscription, and Samuel Carpenter and James Fox 
are desired to get the subscriptions and to bring them in to the 
next monhtly meeeting. It is agreed also that they shall begin 
the School the ist of the ist month next and that Samuel Car- 
penter and James Fox do acquaint them of it, and that prepara- 
tions for the School be made in the Inner Chamber over the 



78 



HISTORY OP OLD GERM AN TOWN 



meeting house. "^ Pastorius, probably finding the distance from 
Germantown to this school too great, was succeeded in it the 
29th of the 1st month, 1700, by John Cadwallader. During the 
time of his service Pastorius was employed to do the writing 
of the Society and Reiner Jansen was engaged to do their 
printing. 

Pennypacker names the following as having sent pupils to 
Pastorius in his Germantown school :- 



Lenert Arets 
Benjamin Armitage 
W. Baumann 
Joseph Coulson 
James De la Plaine 
Wilhelm Dewees 
Cornelius Dewees 
Jan Doeden 
Jan DeWilderness 
Paul Engle 
Jacob Gottschalk 
Hans Graeff 
Wilhelm Hosiers 
Richard Huggin 
Jurgen Jacobs 
Howell James 
Conrad Jansen 
Dirck Jansen 



Hendrick Kassel 
Paul Kastner 
Peter Keurlis 
Peter Keyser 
Anthony Klincken 
Aret Klincken 
Tunes Kunders 
Aret Kuster 
Jan Lensen 
Anton Loot 
Jan Lucken 
Hans Heinrich Mehls 
Matthias Milan 
Benjamin Morgan 
Hans Neuss 
Jan Neuss 
Jonas Potts 
Thomas Potts 



Samuel Richardson 
Claus Rittinghuysen 
Conrad Rutter 
George Schumacher 
Isaac Schumacher 
Peter Schumacher 
Hendrick Sellen 
Walter Simons 
Wilhelm Strepers 
Cornelius Tisen 
Richard Townsend 
Abraham Tunes 
Herman Tunes 
Arnold Van Fossen 
Isaac Van Sintern 
Christian Warner 
Christopher Witt 
Paul Wulff 



Few schools have ever had a more learned schoolmaster. 
"This remarkable man, Francis Daniel Pastorius, was born 
in Somerhausen, Germany, September 26, 165 1, and died Sep- 
tember 27, 1719. He came of a good family, of official standing, 
and he himself was well educated at the University of Strasburg, 
the high school at Basle, and the law school at Jena. He w^as 
well accjuainted with the classical languages, and such modern 
tongues as French, Dutch, English and Italian. He began the 
practice of law in Frankfort, then traveled for two years in Hol- 
land, England. France and Switzerland, and his own country, 
returning to Frankfort just in time to hear of Penn's new-born 
province and put himself at the head of the German movement 
towards it."^ Watson says of him: "Francis Daniel Pastorius 



i"The Great Meeting House" of Friends, 
and Market streets. 



southwest corner Second 



2See his "History of the Settlement of Germantown." 

SScharf and Westcott's "History of Philadelphia." Vol. I, p. 116. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 79 

was a chief among the first settlers ; he was a scholar, and wrote 
Latin in a good hand, and left a curious manuscript work called 
'The Bee,'* containing a beautiful collection of writing, and vari- 
ous curious selections." He was made a Doctor of Laws at Nu- 
remberg in 1676, and combined within himself the various attain- 
ments of statesman, linguist, scholar, prose writer, poet and 
humorist. And yet he sleeps in an unknown grave. 

A few years later, probably in 1708 — for, September 3, 1708. 
they wrote to the Brethren in Amsterdam for "some catechisms 
for the children and little Testaments for the young," — a school 
was started in the old log Mennonite Church. Christopher Dock, 
who arrived in this countr}^ in 1714, and who came to be called 
"the pious schoolmaster of the Skippack," became its teacher, 
probably soon after his arrival, for we know that in 1718 he was 
teaching a school on the Skippack and in 1741 was devoting 
three days of each week to it and the remaining three days to 
the school in Germantown. After his scholars had gone and the 
trials and disappointments of his day's work were over, this pious 
teacher was in the habit of kneeling in prayer in behalf of his 
recalcitrant pupils. He was deeply impressed with the value of 
moral training and has the honor of writing the first work on 
general pedagogy published in America. It was "A Simple and 
Thoroughly Prepared School Organization,"^ and was published 
by Christopher Saur in Germantown in 1770. Dock also wrote 
"A Hundred Necessary Rules of Conduct for Children," which 
was published in Saur's magazine in 1764, and is America's 
first work on etiquette. Death found this pious teacher while 
at his customary prayer after the dismissal of his school. 

The kind hearted Anthony Benezet taught school in German- 
town from 1739 until he went to teach in the Friends' Public 
School in Philadelphia, in 1742. Contrary' to the custom of 
the time, he discarded rules, rods and rulers as barbarous, and 
governed his school by kindness. Watson says, "The good 
Anthony Benezet taught his scholars at ten shillings a quarter." 
Becoming deeply interested in the education of negroes, he pro- 
vided in his will for their free instruction. He desired that no 



4"The Alvearium or Bee Hive" is the correct title. 

5"Eine einfaeltig-e und gruncUich abgefasste Schul-Ordnung-," by Chris- 
topher Dock, of Germantown. Gedruckt und zu flnden bei Christopher 
Saur, 1770. 



8o HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOIVN 

tombstone mark his grave, but, if his friends insisted upon erect- 
ing one, that they should inscribe upon it : 



ANTHONY BBNEZET 

was 

A Poor Creature 

and 

Through Divine Favor 

was 
Enabled To Know It. 



The Moravians, who made their first settlement at Bethle- 
hem in 1 741, but who had missionaries at work in the colony of 
Pennsylvania as early as 1734, opened their first school in the 
colonies in German town, in the spring of 1742. Their leader, 
Count Zinzendorf, had been anxious to have a school here, and, 
on the 17th of April, decided "To commence a school in Ger- 
mantown on the model of the Brethren's schools in Germany." 
It was opened as a boarding school in the Ashmead house,*' and 
was in charge of Zinzendorf and his sixteen-year-old daughter, 
the Countess Benigna. This school was transferred to Bethle- 
hem, in June, 1742, and there developed into one of the most 
famous boarding schools of Colonial times. Count Zinzendorf 
seems to have been somewhat Quixotic, especially in religious 
matters, and to have seriously offended several worthy German- 
town families by "taking off their young and maiden daughters 
to Germany as members of his congregation."' James Logan, 
in a confidential letter to a friend in 1743, does not hesitate to 
denounce him as mentally unbalanced and as a mere knight- 
errant in religion.^ But the school which he established was 
so successful that another Moravian school took its place when 
it was removed from Germantown to Bethlehem. This school 
v/as held in the Bechtel house,'' and, in 1747, was attended by 
fifty boys and girls, among the number being two Mohegan 
Indian girls. One of the many rules for the government of this 
school reads as follows : "Parents are desired not to visit their 
children frequently, as it does them no good ; parents are desired 



c Now No. 5454 Germantown avenue. 

T See Bradford's Mercury for August 14, 1743, for Zinzendorfs replies 
to two such complaints. 

s The Pennsylvania Journal of December 20, 1750, and Rimius' work 
on Zinzendorf, published in London, in 1753, give a full account of his 
life and teaching's. 

9 Now No. 5226 Germantown avenue. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



not to give their children expensive presents, and thus avoid 
dissatisfaction ; the children are to attend meeting Sunday morn- 
ing and afternoon. "^° Some of the best successes of the Moravian 
Church in America came from its missionary efforts, through 
church and school, among the Indians; and the complete subjec- 
tion of the savage Indian character to the gentle tuition of this 
sect will always remain one of its most glorious tributes. 

The next school of which we have any record was that of 
Hilarius Becker who "for some time past has kept a German 
school to general satisfaction," This was prior to the opening 
of the Germantown Academy ; for then he took charge of the 




GERMANTOWN ACADEMY 

German portion of that school, a position which he held until 
1778, when he was succeeded by John Augustus Edert. 

The Germantown Academy, located "in the lane or cross- 
street leading towards the Schuylkill, commonly called Bensil's 
Lane," was built 1760, on ground purchased from John and 
George Bringhurst for one hundred and twenty-five pounds. It 
probably opened the nth day of i\ugust, 1761. From the min- 
utes of the Trustees, we gather that there was "a meeting 
of several of the inhabitants of Germantown, and places adja- 
cent, at the house of Daniel Mackinett in said town, the 6th 
day of December, 1759," when "it was unanimously agreed upon 



loSee Wickersham's "History of Education in Pennsylvania," p. 152. 



82 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

by those present that a large, commodious schoolhouse should 
be erected in said town, near the center thereof, two rooms on 
the first floor whereof should be for the use of English and High 
Dutch, or German schools, and be continued for that use, and 
no other, forever ; and there should be convenient dwellings 
built for the schoolmasters to reside in." The fact that there 
were two languages then in use in Germantown presented a 
difificulty which was settled by having two schools, one for Eng- 
lish speaking children, the other for German. In 1762, there 
were sixty pupils in the German school and seventy in the 
English, about twenty of the latter being boarding pupils. 
It was called the Union School House, Becker having charge 
of the German school, the English school being placed in charge 
of David James Dove, an eccentric Englishman who had taught 
languages for several years in the Academy on Fourth street, 
Philadelphia. A house was given the German master to live 
in and it was agreed that he should "have the half of the school- 
house to keep school in, and to teach reading, writing and arith- 
mrric, at what price he can agree with the parents or masters 
of the scholars." Tuition for the English school was "40 s. per 
annum." 

Dove received a salary of one hundred pounds and, in 
addition, was allowed to take some boarding pupils, a privilege 
he seems to have abused, for, in 1763, complaint was made that 
he had twenty boarders. For this and other abuses it was 
decided that he must leave ; although three months' grace were 
allowed him, "provided he conducts in a sober, decent and regu- 
lar manner during that time." Jwdge Peters, one of 
Dove's pupils, says he was called Dove ironically, "for 
his temper was that of a hawk and his pen was the 
beak of a falcon pouncing on innocent prey." But he was 
also a humorist and usually substituted disgrace for corporal 
pimishment. Instead of flogging, his birch was stuck into the 
back part of the collar of the unfortunate culprit, who, with this 
badge of disgrace towering up like a broom at the mast of a ves- 
sel for sale, w^as obliged to stand on a desk before the school. 
For late pupils he would dispatch a committee of boys with 
tinkling bell and lighted lantern to escort them to school. Being 
just, he did not refuse to be so escorted upon one occasion in 
which he himself was late, "to the no small gratification of the 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 83 

boys and entertainment of the spectators. "^^ He once used the 
following reproof, delivered in his highest voice, when one of his 
pupils did not open his mouth wide enough when speakmg: 
"Why don't you speak louder? Open your mouth like a Dutch- 
man. Say yaw !" 

At a meeting held in ]May, 1763. a committee was appointed 
to employ "a proper school-mistress" for "their daughters and 
young children in reading, writing, etc., etc.," provided a suffic- 
ient number offered to enable them to secure a mistress. On 
the 14th of October, 1762. a night school was opened in the 
building, under the Usher, John Woods, "school to continue 
from 6 to 9, each scholar to find his own candle and to pay 2-6 
for firewood." At a meeting held IMarch 3, 1764, the trustees 
decided to enlarge the curriculum. The following scale of prices 
was then adopted for the English school : 

"The Dead Languages per annum £3.10 s. 

The English Tongue Grammatically £3 

Reading, Writing, etc., in the common manner 40 s." 

During the Revolution the work of the school was badly 
broken by the masters insisting upon entering the Continental 
army and by the British occupation of Germantown. Upon 
hearing of the skirmish at Lexington, the people of Germantown 
at once issued the following call to arms at the L'nion School 
House : 



To the Inhabit afits ofGER u A N TO w N. 

■*^r HEREAS it appears fron-r repeated Ex-prefleS; that l:avc arir- 
ed at Philaddrhia, ; that d:^ Kings- Fovciis and tlie iioftoiiiuns 
^vere in actual Engaocnienf w,l;iv,li makes ithighiV incumbent 
for Perfons who have an}v;i\cgard*ifT.tlfcu\'tb>iw«-v, their Likny md 
Property, to meet and enter on ilicli- Mealimes .as "mav be' a jMems to 
avert me impending Riiin Uiac thrcsten'^ ourCoanrrv, and it is hoped 
that every Friend m AmtTica> Fre-^holdei's and others will aaendac 
the Union School-houle in laid i cm, on Monday the Frd Da\' of 
May next, ai^3 o'Clock in the Afternoon, to enter 'on fiich Meafures 
as may feem nioft proper in the preknt Emergency. 

Genmntomh April the 2yth lyis- ""' ■- - . 



CALL TO ARMS AT THE UNION SCHOOL HOUSE 

iiSee "Memories of a Life Chiefly Passed in Pennsylvania," by Alex- 
ander Graydon. 



84 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

Although Watson, in his "Annals of Philadelphia," Vol. 
Ill, p. 462, states: "In August, 1777, the school was about 
to be used as a hospital for the sick of Washington's army, 
but Israel Pemberton saw President Hancock, and the sick 
soldiers were taken to the hospital in Philadelphia, and the 
school was not interrupted," from the minutes of October, 
1778, we learn "on account of the distressed times no Ger- 
man or English school has been kept this good while." There 
is a blank in the minutes from this time until November i, 
1784, when school seems to have been resumed. In 1793, the 
building was oiTered by the Trustees to the Federal Gov- 
ernment for the use of Congress. There were also negotia- 
tions with the State authorities for its use by the Assembly. 
Both offers, however, were rejected; possibly becavise both gov- 
ernments felt themselves too poor at that time to make the badly 
needed repairs to the building. 

At the first meeting for establishing the school, subscription 

lists were prepared and the following were appointed to receive 

subscriptions : 

Christopher Meng Daniel Mackinett Charles Bensil 
Christopher Sower John Jones Daniel Endt 

Baltus Reser 

Richard Johnson was appointed treasurer of the company. 
The managers of the building operation were : 

Christopher Meng Jacob Coleman John Bringhurst 

Conrad Weaver Peter Seibert Jacob Engle 

Baltus Reser 

The first trustees were : 

Christopher Sower John Bowman Joseph Galloway 

Thomas Rose Thomas Livezey Jacob Neglee 

John Jones David Deshler Charles Bensil 

Daniel Mackinett George Alsentz Benjamin Engle 

Jacob Keyser 

The citizens in the upper end of Germantown, finding the 
distance to the Union School House too great for their children 
in winter, in 1775, built on a portion of the Upper Burying 
Ground, the Concord School House, from funds raised by sub- 
scription. John Grimes was its first schoolmaster. Much of 
the space in the old account-book of this school is taken up in 
recording the expenses for wood for heating it. There is a 
curious entry in this book referring to tuition for "a black boy." 

In 1830, Rev. Dr. George Junkin established a Manual Train- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 85 

ing School in Germantown. In reality, it was a trade school in 
which the pupils were taught how to make trunks, boxes, etc. 
But the cost of transporting material from the City to German- 
town and of shipping the finished goods back to the City being 
too great, owing to high tolls and bad roads, in 1833, the school 
was removed to Easton for the sake of the cheaper water trans- 
portation. Here the manual training idea was abandoned and 
the school developed into Lafayette College. 

On the lower side of Haines Street, near Germantown 
avenue, stood a quaint old house, originally the First Metho- 
dist Church of Germantown, in which was held a school at- 
tended by very young children. This was an outgrowth of 
Froebel's Kindergarten idea and was known as the German- 
town Infant School. It was opened in or about the year 
1852. That the discipline was kind is evidenced by the fact 
that the children were supplied with bread and molasses when 
they grew hungry and with a bed if they fell asleep. Tuition 
cost ten cents a week. 

At the time of Consolidation with the City of Philadelphia, 
in 1854, Germantown (borough and township) became a part 
of the Sixth Ward and contained five public school-buildings 
with an average attendance of eight hundred and forty-one 
pupils. The names of the schools with their teachers follow : 

Rittenhouse School on Rittenhouse Street, Germantown: 

Charles Bowman, A. M., Principal of Boys' Department 

Catherine K. Large, Assistant 

Sarah A. Alcorn, Principal of Girls' Department 

Susannah Rittenhouse, Assistant 

Maria McClelland, Principal of Primary Department 

Elizabeth Roop, Assistant 

Elizabeth Sommers, Assistant 
Bringhurst Primary School on Bringhurst Street, Germantown: 

Adaline Williams, Principal 

Annie M. Campion, Assistant 

A. M. Rittenhouse, Assistant 
Harmony School, Chestnut Hill: 

Henry K. Smith, Principal of Grammar Department 

Rebecca E. Rex, Assistant 

Mary Craig, Principal of Primary Department 

Augusta Haas, Assistant 
West Unclassified School, Allen's Lane, Upper end of Germantown: 

Daniel H. Sellers, Principal 

Susan Haas, Assistant 
Cresheim Primary, Franklinville: 

Ann Hesser 



86 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAN TOWN 



The yearly salaries of teachers in Philadelphia at that time 
ranged from $150 to $300 per year for females, and from $400 
to $1000 for males. The Rittenhouse School was erected in 
1844 on what was then known as Poor House Lane. It took 
the place of several small schools which were being carried on 
in rented buildings. The Bringhurst School opened in 1853 
and took the place of the Manheim Primary at Spring Alley 
and Manheim street. 

The first Harmony School was located on the Bethlehem 
Pike nearly opposite Roberts' Lumber Yard. As it was used 
jointly by the people of Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties, 




THE OLD POOR HOUSE ON RITTENHOUSE STREET 



it received the name of "The Harmony School" to commemorate 
this amicable arrangement. In 1846, a new building was erected 
on the site of the present Fire House on Highland avenue and 
the school removed to that place, where it remained until the 
present Joseph C. Gilbert school building was erected. The 
corner-stone of the second Harmony building was placed in the 
wall of the Fire House and may there be seen, bearing the date 
1 846- 1 894, the latter marking the date of the tearing down of 
the old school building and the erection of the Fire House. 

The first so-called public schools in the County of Philadel- 
phia were established by "Act of 6th of March, 1818, for the 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 87 

Education of Children at public expense within the City and 
County of Philadelphia." Their purpose was to provide for the 
education of those whose parents or guardians were too poor to 
bear the expense of tuition and books. This stigma of poverty 
was not removed until in 1836, when public schools as we now 
use the term were fully established by legislative enactment. 

Lancaster's System of teaching was adopted for the City but 
not for such outlying districts as Germantown. By this system, one 
teacher, aided by monitors from among his own scholars, v/as con- 
sidered sufficient for 300 pupils. But the cheapness of it seemed 
to be about the only thing to recommend it, and a committee 
appointed to investigate its workings reported, in 1838, that, 
wherever they visited a crowded school, they found that a very 
large proportion of the scholars rarely or never received direct 
instruction from the master himself. They therefore advised 
that an adequate number of well qualified teachers be appointed 
to provide for the separation of pupils into the proper sized 
schools. The first mention we find of a Lancasterian or "Mono- 
torial School" in Germantown was in 1836, when the "German- 
town School" had 74 boys and 60 girls under such instruction. 
But the plan must have proved unsatisfactory, for the next year 
it was closed and the children distributed in schools "more con- 
venient to their residences." 

The first schools established by the German settlers were 
connected with their churches and often held in the church 
building, the schoolmaster usually being also the preacher. The 
school buildings were usually small, poorly lighted, and fitted 
out with home-made furniture of the crudest sort. Long 
benches, without backs, arranged around the open fire-place, or 
around the wood stove after it was invented, with shelves fast- 
ened to the wall for those who could write, for many years con- 
stituted the furniture in the schools attended by colonial boys 
and girls. Occasionally the building was in the shape of an 
octagon, with the stove in the center. The desks for the larger 
pupils were then placed around against the walls facing the win- 
dows ; the backless benches for the little folks formed an inner 
circle nearer to the stove. A desk for the teacher, a bucket for 
water, and a small paddle with the words "in" and "out" on its 
opposite sides and which was suspended near the door, completed 
the furniture of the room. This octagonal arrangement made 



HISTORY OP OLD GBRMANTOWN 




the master's desk convenient of access to those desiring to have 
a new nib cut on their quill-pens or to have assistance with an 
example. It also placed the small children nearer to the stove 
in cold weather. Here they could look at the rows of thawing 
bottles of ink, home-made out of bruised nut-galls and water 
with some rusty nails dropped in to give it the proper degree 
of blackness, and envy those old enough to use them. Black- 
boards and slates were unknown, paper was dear, and school 

books exceedingly scarce. The 
pupil was expected to bring 
any book which he might have 
at home, to use as his reading 
book. Most of the reading was 
done from the Bible, the New 
Testament or the Psalter. The 
ABC method was used in 
teaching reading and the ''horn- 
book" was the only primer that 
most of the children saw. This 
consisted of a sheet of paper 
the size of the leaf of a small 
book, on which was printed the alphabet, the Lord's Prayer, 
and the Roman numerals. The sheet was fastened to a small 
board with a handle cut on one of its ends, and was covered 
with a thin sheet of transparent horn to protect it from the 
soiling and destruction of little fingers. 

The Pastorius primer of 1698 has already been mentioned. 
But it was in English, and it was not until 1738 that Saur pub- 
lished for German pupils an "A B C und Buchstabier Buch" (A B 
C and Spelling Book). In 1755 he issued another German 
primer and in 1761 still another. In 1771 he published the "New 
England Primer Improved." Anthony Benezet published a 
primer in 1778 which had an extended use among the Friends. 
These old primers contained lists of words for spelling as well 
as matter for reading, and sometimes rules for punctuation, 
some grammar, and a little geography. For a long time the 
only arithmetic in the school was in the hands of the teacher. 
The pupils copied the rules, the problems to be solved under 
each rule, and their solutions in a "cyphering book" made at 
home out of sheets of paper sewed together. The first arith- 



ELWOOD (ARMITAGE) 
PUBLIC SCHOOL 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 89 

metic published in Philadelphia, was an edition of "Dilworth's 
Schoolmaster's Assistant," in 1768; it had been first published 
in England in 1743. In 1774, Saur published in Germantown 
Daniel Fenning's "Der Geschwinde Rechner" (The Ready Reck- 
oner) ; and, in 1779, Cocker's Arithmetic, which was published in 
Dublin in 1677 and which is the parent of all modern arithmetics, 
was reprinted in Philadelphia. In 1753, Saur issued Theophilus 
Grew's "Description of the Use of Globes ;" but there was no 
general work on geography until in 1795, when D wight's Geog- 
raphy appeared. It was only the size of a spelling book and 
had no maps. Saur published "Eine Deutsch und Englische 
Grammatik" in 1747. and "Anleitung zur Englischen Sprache" 
(Guide to English Speech) in 1750; but for many years the 
study of grammar was confined to a few select schools. Any- 
thing approaching uniformity of text books, even for use in the 
same school, is of comparatively recent date. Nor was there 
any attempt made in the early days to form pupils into classes ; 
and hence there was no attempt made to grade pupils or to 
form a system of schools. All that the master was expected 
to do was to keep order and to give instruction in the merest 
elements of reading, writing and arithmetic. 

Some idea of the method of conducting a school in 
the colonial days, may be gathered from a letter written, 
in 1730, by Rowland Jones to the Rev. Dr. David 
Humphreys in regard to his method of teaching: "Sir, you 
require an account of my method of instruction in school. I 
endeavor, for beginners, to get Primers with syllables, viz., from 
one to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. I take them several times over them 
till they are perfect, by way of repeating according as I find 
occasion, and then, to some place forward according to their 
capacity and commonly every two or three leaves. I make 
them repeat perhaps two or three times over, and when they 
get the Primer pretty well, I serve them so in the Psalter, and 
we have some Psalters with the proverbs at the latter end. I 
give them that to learn, which I take to be very agreeable, and 
still follow repetitions till I find they are masters of such places. 
Then I move them into such places as I judge they are fit for, 
either in the New or Old Testament, and as I find that they 
advance, I move them not regarding the beginning nor the end- 
ing of the Bible, but moving them where I think they will have 



90 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

benefit by. So making of them perfect in the vowels, consonants 
and diphthongs, and when they go on in their reading clean 
without any noising, singing or stumbling, with deliberate way, 
then I set them to begin the Bible in order to go throughout. 
And when I begin writing, I follow them in the letters till they 
come to cut pretty clean letters and then one syllable and so on 
to 2, 3, 4, and so'on to the longest words, and when they join 
handsomely, I give them some sweet pleasing verses, some per- 
haps on their business, some on behavior, and some on their duty 
to parents, etc., of such I seldom want at command, and when 
they come to manage double copies readily, I give them some 
delightful sentences or Proverbs or some places in the Psalms 
or any part of the Bible as they are of forwardness and also to 
other fancies that may be for their benefit. And when I set 
them cyphering, I keep them to my old fancy of repeating and 
shall go over every rule till they are in a case to move forward 
and so on. And I find no way that goes beyond that of repeat- 
ing both in spelling, reading, writing and cyphering, and several 
gentlemen, viz., Ministers and others have commended it and 
some schoolmasters take to it, and though I speak it I have met 
with no children of the standing or time of mine, could come 
up with them on all accounts or hardly upon any ; I also give 
them tasks, when able, to learn out of books according to their 
ability, but one girl exceeded all. She had a great many parts 
in the Bible by heart and had the whole book of St. John, and 
hardly would miss a word. I put them to spell twice a week 
and likewise to Catechism, and likewise I catechise every Satur- 
day and often on Thursdays. Sometimes I set them to sing 
Psalms." 

Watson records the lively picture drawn by his facetious 
friend, "Lang Syne," to portray one of his well-remembered 
schoolmasters. It is a description of J. Todd, "master of schol- 
ars," who taught in the Friends Academy, Fourth below Chest- 
nut street; and, no doubt, fairly illustrates the customary method 
of discipline of many of the teachers of that time. The record 
is as follows : "After an hour, may be, of quiet time, everything 
going smoothly on — boys at their tasks — no sound, but from the 
master's voice, while hearing the one standing near him — a dead 
calm — when suddenly a brisk slap on the ear or face, for some- 
thing or for nothing, gave 'dreadful note' that an irruption of 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 91 

the lava was now about to take place — next thing to be seen was 
'strap in full play' over the head and shoulders of Pilgarlic. The 
passion of the master 'growing by what it fed on," and wanting 
elbow room, the chair would be quickly thrust on one side, when, 
with sudden gripe, he was to be seen dragging his struggling 
suppliant to the flogging ground, in the center of the room — 
having placed his left foot upon the end of a bench, he then, 
with a patent jerk, peculiar to himself, would have the boy com- 
pletely horsed across his knee, with his left elbow on the back 
of his neck, to keep him securely on. In the hurry of the mo- 
ment he would bring his long pen with him, griped between his 
strong teeth (visible the while), causing the both ends to descend 
to a parallel with his chin, and adding much to the terror of the 
scene. His face would assume a deep claret colour — his little 
bob of hair would disengage itself, and stand out, each 'particu- 
lar hair,' as it were, 'up in arms and eager for the fray.' Having 
his victim thus completely at command, and all useless drapery 
drawn up to a bunch above the waistband, and the rotundity and 
the nankeen in the closest affinity possible for them to be, then, 
once more to the 'staring crew,' would be exhibited the dexterity 
of master and strap. By long practice he had arrived at such 
perfection in the exercise, that, moving in quick time, the fifteen 
inches of bridle rein (alias strap) would be seen, after every cut, 
elevated to a perpendicular above his head ; from whence it 
descended like a flail upon the stretched nankeen, leaving, 'on the 
place beneath,' a fiery red streak at every slash. It was cus- 
tomary with him to address the sufferer at intervals, as follows : 
'Does it hurt? — (O ! yes, master, O ! don't master), then I'll make 
it hurt thee more — I'll make thy flesh creep — thou shan't want 
a warming pan to-night — intolerable being ! — Nothing in nature 
is able to prevail upon thee, but my strap.' " Only a boy with 
leather breeches could set such a master at defiance. 

Saur's English Almanac for 1758, then being published by 
Christopher Saur the second, who, like his father, was an Elder 
in the Dunker Church, published an article on education which 
was probably written by Saur himself. Its title is "Some Useful 
Remarks on the Education of the Youth in the Country Parts 
of this and the Neighboring Provinces." The writer emphasizes 
the need of care "to make the children spell true" ; "to make 
them read with proper Emphasis and punctuality" ; "That such 



92 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

part of Grammar as is applicable to the English Tongue be 
taught those boys who are fit for it in order to make them 
write properly" ; "That in writing care be taken to promote a 
strong free round Hand" ; "That in Arithmetick it be recom- 
mended to the Master to teach in the first place the most plain 
and practicable Rules, etc." The article indicates that the Dunkers 
were already contemplating a general system of schools of their 
own. But the interest in education was now general among the 
Germans, and, before the end of the century, as careful an observer 
as Dr. Rush was able to say: "There is scarcely an instance of a 
German, of either sex, in Pennsylvania, that cannot read, but 
many of the wives and daughters of the German farmers cannot 
write. The present state of society among them renders this 
accomplishment of little consequence to their improvement or 
happiness." As the percentage of illiteracy in the state was then 
quite large, his observation was very favorable to the intelligence 
of the Germans. But it has been claimed that, while they be- 
lieved in and supported elementary schools, the German settlers 
were opposed to higher education. It is true that they had 
suffered so much in the Fatherland from ecclesiasticism, dogma- 
tism, and arrogance as manifested by learned men, that they had 
good cause to look with suspicion on the kind of institutions that 
had helped to give such men their intellectual power. They soon 
saw, however, that under the new conditions of civil and religious 
freedom, and because of the demand and possibility for building 
up new institutions founded upon new ideas presented by the 
nev/ commonwealth, there was a meaning and a force in the 
higher education which made it extremely desirable. While it 
took time to educate the mass of their people to appreciate this 
new conception, the Saur Press ; the work of the Moravians ; the 
Germantown Academy, in whose establishment Saur was deeply 
interested ; the work of the Rev. Dr. Henry Muhlenberg in 
founding Franklin College at Lancaster, in 1787, in order that 
the Germans might have the most favorable opportunity for 
college training; and the positions of prominence in all fields 
deservedly won by sons of the early German settlers ; all fur- 
nish the best answer to such charges. ^^ 



12 For an account of Saur's successful efforts in balking what he 
regarded as the schemes of the Rev. Michael Schlatter to denationalize 
the Germans, and which apparently arrayed Saur against higher educa- 
tion, see Wickersham's "History of Education in Pennsylvania," pp. 65-73. 



CHAPTER VII 



THE SPROGELL TROUBLE 

The welfare of the Httle colony was seriously threatened, 
at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century, through the un- 
principled actions of Daniel Falkner and John Henry Sprogell. 
Pastorius, having grown tired of the management of the Frank- 
fort Company's affairs, or possibly because of some expression 
of dissatisfaction with his administration of them, resigned in 
1700. Daniel Falkner, Johannes Jawert and the hermit Kelpius 
were appointed to the management in his stead. Kelpius re- 
fused to act and Jawert would not serve with Falkner, posting a 
notice in the Meeting house at Germantown that nobody should 
pay any rent or other debt due to the company "unto the said 
Falkner" because of his ill administration and because, as Pasto- 
rius afterwards said of him. he "turned into such a spendthrift 
and Ever-drunk Ever-dry that he made Bonfires of the Com- 
pany's flax in open street at Germantown, giving a bit (of silver 
money) to one Lad for lighting his Tobacco-pipe, and a Piece of 
eight to another to show him in his drunken Fit a house in Phila- 
delphia, wdiich in his sober fits he knew as well as his own. etc." 
Matters remained in this state until the arrival of John Henry 
Sprogell. "a cunning and fraudulent fellow." whose parents were 
"to be pitied for such a scandal to their Family." Sprogell 
claimed to have bought the interests of certain of the Frankfort 
Company before coming to America. Falkner, wdio was heavily 
in debt, came under his influence and together they sought a 
plan for getting possession of the lands and fees of the German 
settlers. David Lloyd, a contentious attorney who was a thorn 
in the flesh of the Proprietor of the Province, agreed, in consid- 
eration of a consideratile tract of land, to try to secure an act 
of ejectment from the county court. In this he was successful; 
for, they "did fee all the known attorneys, or lawyers, of this 
Province either to speak for ym or to be silent in Court," in 



94 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

order to deprive the settlers of all legal advice. They also bribed 
the Queen's Attorney to all possible secrecy in the proceedings. 
The very boldness of the attempt probably aided in its success, 
and, though the clerk of the Colonial Council afterwards de- 
clared the scheme to be so heinous that he could scarcely con- 
sider it credible, judgment was secured in their favor in a Court 
for the County of Philadelphia, held the 15th of January, 1708. 
Although the action seems to have involved only the lands still 
held by the Frankfort Company, it alarmed the remainder of 
the German settlers as to the security of their possessions. 
Through Pastorius and his friend James Logan, they sent urgent 
appeals to Penn. He at once arranged for the naturalization 
of all foreigners who had purchased land in Pennsylvania, by 
act of the House of Representatives of the Province, in order in 
this way to establish their rights as citizens to hold and dispose 
of property. There is no evidence that the settlers were further 
disturbed in their rights ; but, even though Pastorius and Jawert 
on behalf of the Frankfort Company, brought the matter before 
the Governor and his Council and secured favorable action 
against the decision of the Court, Sprogell seems to have secured, 
at least temporarily, the Company's land, for we find him at once 
beginning to cut their timber and, in 1714, he held their German- 
town lots. That the settlers were anxious about their land- 
titles even before the Sprogell trouble, is evident from the fol- 
lowing entry in the Court Record of Germantown : "The 30th of 
September, 1701, it was ordered that the confirmation of our 
Charter by the ruling of the now sitting Assembly shall be 
sought ; as also Through another Request to the Governor our 
naturalization in England be secured. Daniel Pastorius shall 
place the said requests before the competent Authorities and The 
necessary gold Therefor receive from the Rentmaster." Also in 
the following : 

"Ye 15th of the 3mo, 17C6. 

A Petition of Johannes Koster and about 150 other high and low 
Germans, to the Govr. and Council was read, setting forth, that the 
Petrs. with many other aliens to the Kingdom of England, by the En- 
couragement of the Propr. had Transported themselves into this Pro- 
vince, «& by their Industry had changed the uncultivated Lands they had 
purchased into good settlemts., & for Twenty two years past had be- 
haved themselves as Liege & Loyal subjects of England, that above 60 
of the said Ptrs. at one time, viz.: the 7th of ye 3mo 1691, had in open 
Court, promised allegiance to K. William & Q. Mary, & fidelity to the 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOIVN 95 

Propr., besides many others who had done the Like, &c., that such as 
have not already obliged themselves are ready to do it when they shall 
be admitted. They therefore request that (seeing that they are not 
at present believed to be secure in their Estates), for remedying the 
unhappiness they may be engaged in, if they be still considered as for- 
eigners, the Assembly may be convened with all Convenient speed, & 
a Bill recommended from this board for naturalizing all & every of the 
said Ptrs., that they may have an undoubted right to hold, enjoy, alien- 
ate, sell & dispose of any of their Lands, as the natural born subjects 
of England may or can do in this Province, & also that they may be 
capable of Electing, & being elected to serve in Assembly and other 
Offices: * * * also that some of the Petrs., being Mennists, who (with 
their Predecessory for above 150 Years past) could not for Conscience 
sake take an Oath, the same provision may be made for them by law, as 
is made for those Quakers in this Province, and that the said Law 
may be sent home with the rest, past by the late Assembly, in Order 
to obtain the Queen's Royal Approbation." 

In accordance with this petition the petitioners were given 
leave to procure the Attorney-General to prepare a bill of na- 
ttiralization to present to the board. Bttt no action was taken in 
the matter until 1709. 

In the meantime the following correspondence in regard to 
the matter had taken place between Penn and James Logan : 

Letter of Logan to Penn, the 24th of the 4th month, 1708: 

"All foreigners, the Germans and Dutch especially, are exceeding 
uneasy here for want of better assurances to their lands, being told that 
they must all escheat, and that they have no right to them, which is 
of very ill consequence." 

Penn to Logan the 29th of the 7th month, 1708: 

"About the naturalization, it will be necessary that the parties send 
10s. per head over, per first opportunity, which will be an easy purchase 
of their freedom, and I will be held responsible for its disposal." 

Penn to Logan the 3d of the ist month, 1709: 

"Fail not, pray, to send me over the names of all our foreigners not 
born in the country, and I will put them into one Act, or at least 
patent, for denization, to put them out of their trouble that villain Lloyd 
put the Saxons and others into, as the chief est of them (Pastorius?) 
told me, and gave it under his hand, which I have to show." 

In accordance with this, a bill was prepared and passed the 
House of Representatives of the Province and was brought to 
the Governor for his assent, as appears in the following: 

"At Council held in Philadelphia, the 29th of September, 1709. 
The Govr. acquainted the Board, that last night the speaker attended 
■with several members of the House, and brought him the Bill for natural- 



96 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAN TOWN 



izing the Germans, which he now desired to pass, and accordingly he 
was pleased to give his assent to the said bill, Intituled an Act for the 
better Enabling of Divers Inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania., 
To Hold and Enjoy Lands, Tenemts. and Plantation in the same Pro- 
vince, by which are naturalized the persons following, vizt.: 



ffrancis Daniel Pastorius 

John Jawert 

Caspar Hoodt 

Dennis Kunders and his three 

sons 
Cunrad Cunrads 

Mathias Cunrads & John Cun- 
rads 
Dirck Keyser & his son Peter 

Keyser 
John Lurken (Jan Lucken?) 
Wm. Strepers 
Abraham Tunnis 
Lenhart Arrets 
Reiner Tysen 
Jno. Lensen 
Isaac Dilbeck & his son Jacobus 

Dilbeck 
John Doeden 

Cornelius Siorts ** 

Henry Sellen 
Walter Simons 
Dirck Jansen, Junr. 
Richd. Vanderwerf and his son, 

John Roelofs Vanderwerf 
John Strepers, Senr. 
Peter Shoemaker 
Jacob Shoemaker 
Geo. Shoemaker 
Isaac Shoemaker 
Matthis Van Bebber 
Cornells Vanderbach 
Peter Clever 
George Gattschick 
Paul Engell and his son Jacob 

Engell 
Hans Neis Reiner 
Vander Sluys & his son Audrian 

Vander Sluys 
Jacob Gaetschalk 
Vander Heggen & his son Gaet- 
schalk Vander Heggen 



Casper Kleinhof 

Henry Bucholtz 

Herman Tuymen( Herman Tunen?) 

Paul Klumpges and his son Jno. 

Klumpges 
John Neus & his son Matthis 

Neus & Cornelius Neus 
Claus Ruttingheysen 
Caspar Stalls 
Henry Tubben. 
Wm Hendricks and his son Hen- 

drick Hendricks & Lawrence 

Hendricks 
Henry Kessleberry 
Johannes Rebenstock 
Peter Verbymen 
John Henry Kersten 
John Radwitzer 
John Cunrads, Senr. 
John Gorgaes 
Senwis Bartells and his son Henry 

Bartells 
John Krey and his son Willm. 

Krey 
Cunrad Jansen 
Claus Jansen & his son John 

Jansen and Wm. Jansen 
Evert in Hoffe & his sons Ger- 
hard in Hoffe, Herman in Hoffe 

& Peter in Hoffe 
Peter Jansen 
John Smith 
Thos. Echlewich 
Johannes Scholl 
Gabriel Senter 
William Puts 
Matthis Tysen 
All of the County of Philadelphia 

and 
Johannes Bleikers of the County 

of Bucks 



The preceding March, Pastorius and Jawert had presented 
petitions to the Governor and his Council, in which they com- 
plained of the iniquity of Sprogell, Falkner, and Lloyd; and 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 97 

through which they secured action adverse to that of the Court, 
as is seen in the following: 

"To Cha. Gookin, Esqr., Ltt. Govr. of ye Province of Pennsylvia.. 
&ct. & his honble. Council. 

The Earnest Peticon of ffrancis Daniel Pastorius 
Humbly Showeth: 

That whereas your Petitioner is not only a Co-partner of a Certain 
Compa. called the Frankford Compa., but also had served the same 
ye space of Seventeen Years and Five Months, without ye least pamts. 
from ye said Compa. of a reasonable sallery promised unto him out of 
ye Revenue of their Pennsylvanian Estate, and moreover hath Consid- 
erably disburs'd on their acct., &ct. one Jno. Henry Sprogel, thro" the 
Contrivance or Plotting of Daniel Falkner, in ye last adjourned Court, 
held for the County of Philadia., the 13th of Janry., by means of a Fictis 
Juris, as they term it (wherewith your Petitr. is altogether unacquainted), 
hath got a Writt of Ejectment, wch it doth not affect your Petitioner, 
yet the said Sprogel would have Ejected him out of his own home, &ct. ; 
Therefore your Petitr. humbly intreats the honble. Govr. & his Council 
to be pleased to take into your serious Consideration; 1st, that the said 
Falkner, what he hath done in this Case, did so solely by himself, be- 
yond his power, & contrary to the mind and will of his Joynt Attorney, 
Johannes Jawert; 2d, That Sprogel can't show any Deed of Sale from 
your Petitioner's Co-partners in Germany, ye wch if ye French had taken, 
(as he sometimes will say) might by him have been procured afresh, 
he afterwards lying still in Holland several months; 3d, That suppose 
he had bought the shares of those in Germany, then ye said Compa. 
or their Attornies here ought in honesty to make up their accts, with 
your Petitr., and satisfy what was Justly owing to him and others, pur- 
suant to their contract of Society; 4thly, That the sd. Sprogel, having 
at once in the Last adjd. Court above mention'd, gott the said Writt of 
Ejectmt., so as to finish this his Contrivance in the County Court, to 
be held third day of the next month, between wch and the former no 
Provincial Court doth Intervene, for a Writt of Error, &ct hath further 
feed or retain'd the four known Lawyers of this Province, in order to 
deprive as well your Petitr., as likewise Johannes Jawert, of all advice 
in Law, wch sufficiently argues his cause to be none of the best. And 
so finally your Petir., notwithstanding he was the first of all Germans 
that came into this Countrey since it is a Province, yet being but poor 
and unable to fetch Lawyers from New York or remoter places, makes 
this his humble application to the Gov. & his Council for any such 
effectual Relief as you in Justice and Equity shall think Expedient, both 
in restraining the said Sprogel's further procedings, before he prove his 
Title, and also that your Pettrs. Accts. & further rightful Demands may 
be settled & accomplished with ye Attornies of the Abovesaid Compa., 
according to the Way & Method by themselves agreed upon in their 
contract of Society, & your Petitr. shall thankfully ackrowledge Your 
Justness towards him in this his helpless Condicon, and ever pray, as 
in duty bound. 

FRANCIS DANIEL PASTORIUS." 

"To his Honour, Cha. Gookin, Esqr., Ltt. Govr. of ye Province of 
Pennsylvia. &c. & his Honble. Council. 



98 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

The Petition of Johannes Jawert humbly Sheweth: 
That whereas your Petitr. by a Letter of Attorney, a Copy whereof 
is here enclosed, hath been Impowr'd together with Daniel Falkner, (& 
Johannes Kelpius, now deceased) Jointly to administer a Certain Estate 
in this Province consisting of 25,000 acres of land, & belonging to some 
persons who live in Germany, as by the said Copy doth more fully 
appear; And seeing of late one Jno. Henry Sprogel, upon his arrival from 
Holland, first told your Petitr. that he had bought the said Estate of 
those persons residing in Germany, but afterwds. Denying it, again pre- 
ferred to buy ye same of your Petitr., (who is a partner thereof,) and 
his Joynt Attorney, Danll. Falkner, and when your Petitr. could not 
accept of his terms, he offering a very inconsiderable summ, then he 
promised one hundd. pounds to your Petitr. gratis, or to put up for 
himself; But your Petitr. not willing to betray his trust, broke off; «& 
so before he was aware, & without ye least of his knowledge, the said 
Sprogel, under a Pretence of a Debt owing him by the said Falkner 
under hand solely by the Connivance & Collusion of ye sd. Daniel Falk- 
ner, who nevertheless, was not Inabled to Act, without your Petitr. 
Ejected the said Germans out of ye sd. their Estate at the last County 
Court, held ye 12th of Janry. not giving any notice thereof, to your 
Petitr., or any other person Concerned. And besides, he, ye said Sprogel 
& Falkner, to make this their abominable Plott to bear, did fee all the 
known attornies, or Lawyers of this Province, either to speak for ym. 
or to be silent in Court, in order to deprive your Petitr. of all advice 
in Law, even so much as to find none to signify this your Petitr.'s Com- 
plaint, or to draw a Peticon to your Honour & Council in due form from 
your English method. 

Therefore your Petitr. most Earnestly intreats your Honour, ye Govr. 
and Council to take ye Premises into your serious Considerations, & for 
ye preventing of ye scandal, which by ye above menconed treacherous 
Plott between Sprogel & Falkner, will be caused to be cast upon ye 
Proprys., Governmt. & Courts of Justice of the Province, in several parts 
of Germany, where your Petitrs., Imployers & Copartners do dwell. To 
put a timely stop to ye Wasting of Timber on ye aforesaid Estate, which 
ye said Sprogel hath already begun to make, and to left or hinder both 
his receiving of the Rents or arrears of Rents, due to the said Persons 
in Germany; and more Especially the selling of the whole or any Tract 
or parcel of the above sd. Estate, till your Petitrs., Imployers & Copart- 
ners in Germany, may be acquainted with ye foul & unanswerable fact 
of Dan'l Falkner, their untrusty Attorney, and Letters may be had from 
them Concerning this business, and your Petitr. not only for himself, 
but also in behalf of those in Germany, shall ever acknowledge this Your 
Justice & favor, and pray as in Duty bound. 



JNO. JAWERT." 



And the record now continties to say: 



"And the mentioned attempt being so heinous, that it was scarce 
accounted Credible, they were called in and examined upon ye Circum- 
stances of the case, by which it appear'd that David Lloyd was principal 
agent & Contriver of the whole, and it was affirmed that he had for his 
pay a thousand acres of Benjamin Furley's land, which he, the said Ben- 
jamin was so weak as to intrust Sprogel with the Disposal of. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 99 

Ordd. hereupon, that notice be given by all ye Conveyances that may 
be to the francfort Society of Purchasers, yt they forthwith send full 
powers to reverse ye Judgment according to Law." 

Notwithstanding this decision of the Council, Sprogell seems 
to have secured the Germantown lots still owned by the Frank- 
fort Co. at the time of his suit, and also the lots of Johannes 
Kassell, Isaac Shaffer and Henry Bucholtz. Kassel's and Shaf- 
fer's land probably because they were not among the number 
included in the act of naturalization of 1709, and therefore not 
so well prepared to protect their rights ; Bucholtz's land for no 
reason which is now apparent. 

The following records from the minutes of the Philadelphia 

[Monthly Meeting of Friends, presents David Lloyd's connection 

with this afifair in its most favorable light, because he himself 

Avas a member of this meeting and the decisions were those of 

his associates : 

"The 29th of the 3d month, 1713. 

A letter from one John Jawert, a German in Maryland, was sent to 
this meeting, setting forth the injury he and the German Company had 
sustained, wherein he blames David Lloyd as chief instrument therein, 
which was read. It being now late and the meeting near conclusion, it 
is thought fit to be left for further inquiry and consideration. Anthony 
Morris, Wm. Hudson and Pentecost Teague or any one of them, are 
desired to acquaint David Lloyd with the contents of the sd. letter." 

"The 26th of the 4th month, 1713. 

The minute relating to David Lloyd and the letter sent to this meet- 
ing by John Jawert having beeen under consideration, and David Lloyd 
still continuing his request for a Certificate, the sense of this meeting 
is that David Lloyd should appear at our monthly meeting, to give them 
satisfaction in relation to the complaint of Daniel Pastorius and John 
Jawert." 

"The 31st of the 5th month, 1713. 

David Lloyd according to this meeting's Desire gave his account in 
writing how far he has been concerned in the proceedings against the 
German Company's lands as follows. Viz.: that Falkener, one of the 
said Company's agents, came with John Henry Sprogel to advise how 
the said Sprogel could have a title to the said Lands, which he had 
purchased. And the said Falkener produced certain powers from sev- 
eral of the said Company which the sd. David Lloyd conceived were not 
so Effectual to make the sd. title without the help of the Court of 
Common Pleas. They said they had applied to council who were of the 
same opinion, but desired David Lloyd would draw up the record therein. 
He went to the Court and saw the sd. Falkener prove his amount upon 
Oath and saw also a letter which he verily believed was Benjamin Fur- 



loo HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

ley's writing, purporting that the sd. Falkener must not Expect to be 
paid his demand against the said Company without he sold so much 
Land as would do it. Also that Sprogel showed the sd. David Lloyd 
a paper in Dutch or German which, as he rendered it in English, did 
import an agreement of some of the said Company to Sell him their 
lands here for a Certain Sum of about the same Value, he was to give 
the said Falkener for it. And that he the sd. David Lloyd conceived 
the sd. intended purchase to be upon a Valuable Consideration and that 
he knew not nor was ever privy to any manner of fraud in the said 
purchase Directly or Indirectly." 

"The 2Sth of the 6th month, 1713. 

The relation that David Lloyd gave last monthly meeting being 
under consideration, concerning conveying the Germans' Lands, and be- 
ing again read, Daniel Pastorius being present, desired that the further 
consideration thereof may be continued until there may be an oppor- 
tunity for some friends to hear him and David Lloyd together. In order 
thereunto the meeting requests Nicolas Walln, Anthony Morris, Wm. 
Hudson, Jonathan Dickinson, Richard Hill, Isaac Morris, Pentecost 
Teague and John Warder, or any five of them, to hear the matter be- 
tween them and to make report thereof at our next monthly meeting." 

"The 30th of the Sth month, 1713. 

The friends appointed to hear David Lloyd and Daniel Pastorius, 
five of them met and heard what they had to say, and upon the whole 
matter they reported themselves not fully satisfied, therefore those 
friends that were absent and the friends before appointed at the last 
hearing with the assistance of Samuel Preston, or any six of them, are 
desired to labor further with David Lloyd and endeavor to convince 
him that there is a fraud in the recovering of the said Germans' Lands 
whether he was then apprised of it or not." 

"The 27th of the 9th month, 1713. 

The matter relating to David Lloyd concerning the Germans' Lands 
being discoursed at this meeting, David Lloyd being here, upon the 
whole It lies thus at present that David Lloyd doth still say and also 
by a paper under his hand to the same purpose that he was not con- 
scious of any fraud therein, but if any hath taken offence at him 
concerning it, he is sorry for it, and if it should hereafter appear to be 
so, he will endeavor to discourage it as much as in him lies. However, 
it seems to the meeting to be that which is not of a good report and 
therefore Desires David Lloyd that he may forbear to have anything 
further to do towards strengthening the parties concerned therein." 



CHAPTER VIII 



INTERESTING EVENTS 

The affairs of the village now moved along in a very even 
way for some time. With the exception of marriages, funerals, 
occasional fires, and frequent visits from bands of Indians on 
their way to Philadelphia, nothing occurred to cause unusual 
excitement until the breaking out of the French and Indian 
War. 

To prevent fires, the regular inspection of chimneys and 
hearths was provided for by the authorities. Householders were 
required to keep their chimneys free from dangerous collections 
of soot, which formed very rapidly owing to the great quantities 
of fire-wood consumed. The usual method of cleaning a chim- 
ney was to thrust a long tapering bundle of burning rye-strav\" 
up the throat of the chimney, in order to burn out the soot 
which could not be reached with a scraper. In i/Oi, the Assem- 
bly of the Province passed a law to prevent the firing of chim- 
neys to cleanse them, and which also directed that each house- 
holder should keep at his dwelling "a swab twelve or fourteen 
feet long and two leathern buckets, to be ready in case of acci- 
dent by fire." IMagistrates were also directed to procure "six 
or eight good hooks for tearing down houses on fire." The first 
organized effort for the putting out of fires in Philadelphia, and 
probably the first in the country, was the establishment of the 
Union Fire Company in that city, in 1736. This was a volunteer 
organization, which had to rely upon the leather buckets and 
the swabs and the fire-hooks for its success. The small fire- 
engine purchased by the City, in 1718, was regarded as a great 
improvement, although its lack of power required it to be so 
close to the fire that the water usually had to be carried to it 
and poured into its little tank. From this it was sucked up by 
one motion of the pump and forced out by the other motion. 
Its small intermittent stream could, however, be thrown to 



I02 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



greater heights than water from a bucket. The first engine of 
this type used in Germantown was the "Shagrag," whose rather 
unclassical name gives no idea of the service it rendered the 
httle community after it was procured in 1764. In that year, 
Germantown was divided into three fire districts, with a volun- 
teer fire company in each. These were known as the Upper 
Ward Fire Company, the Middle Ward Fire Company, and the 
Lower Ward Fire Company. Later the first of these became 




FIRE ENGINE "SHAGRAG " 

the Franklin Fire Company No. 6, the second became the Wash- 
ington Fire Company in 1834, and the third became the Columbia 
Fire Company. Hooks and ladders were also kept at convenient 
points, the hooks being especially valuable in pulling down 
houses. They were 'Very much like immense ice hooks, at- 
tached to poles some thirty feet long, heavy and strong, the 
powerful hook being of course driven into one end, while to the 
other two chains were attached ; to these chains, when necessary, 
long ropes could be fastened, so that when the hook was driven 
into the top of a small frame house, a string of men could topple 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



103 



it over and drag it away, if desired ; so, too, with hay-stacks or 
other similar objects." ^ 

As there were no fire insurance companies at that 
time, anyone so unfortunate as to have a fire had to 
depend upon the help of his fellow-townsmen to save his property, 
or sulTer a total loss. In this all showed a commendable spirit 
of helpfulness and, when the volunteer organizations were formed 
in 1764, many of the best citizens joined them. All submitted gra- 
ciously to the rules adopted for their control. One of these 
rules required each member to "provide Two Leather Buckets" 
at his own expense, to be "Kept ready at hand and applied to 
no other use ;" the fine for the neglect of this duty was five shil- 
lings. Another rule required that "upon our first hearing of 
Fire in the Night Time we will immediately cause two or more 
Lights to be set up in our front Windows, and Such of our 
Company whose Houses shall be thought to be in Danger Shall 
place Candles in every room to prevent Confusion and that 
their Friends may be able to give them speedy and effectual 
Assistance ;" the fine for the neglect of this regulation was two 
shillings. The lights in the front windows served to guide 
their comrades along the dark streets, and were also a sign that 
the member vv^as awake for duty. The Shagrag was stationed 
at the lower end of the village and, as each of the other divi- 
sions also wanted a fire engine, a subscription for their purchase 
was at once taken up. To this probably nearly all of the citi- 
zens contributed something, so that the list of subscribers which 
follows is also a fairly correct list of the families living in Ger- 
mantown at that time (1764) : 



Samuel Ashmead, Esqr. 
Hartman Adams 
William Ashmead 
Barbara Adams 
Paxon Alsence 
Mathias Adams 
Peter Ax 
John Adams 
Jacob Bowman 
Charles Bensel 
Lewis Bidding 
George Bringhurst 
Peter Bokeus 



John Bokeus 
Jacob Bowman 
Henry Bengel 
George Bickess 
Ulrick Buttner 
Elizabeth Boyer 
Martin Beck 
Bart W. Beninghousen 
Michael Bergentaller 
Henry Beil 
Barbara Bensel 
Hilarius Baker 
Peter Bonno 



George Bergman 
Jacob Coleman 
James Dellworth, Junr. 
James Dellaplain 
William Dewees, Esq. 
Elizabeth Deshler 
David Deshler 
Jacob Engle 
Paul Engel 
George Everhart 
Ludwig Englehart 
Benj. Engles' widow 
John Engle 



1 See Thomas H. Shoemaker's article in tlie Pennsylvania Magazine 
of History, Vol. XVIII, p. 429. 



104 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



Paul Engle, Senr. 
Jacob Enters 
Jacob Fisher 
Lenhart Fraj'lich 
John Gorgas 
Joseph Gorgas 
Abraham Griffith 
Catherine Gensale 
Adolph Gillman 
Conrad Good 
Christopher Gaufman 
Daniel Hess 
Fronica Hagerman 
Moses Hall 
Jacob Hall 
John Hesser 
John Jones, Junr. 
John Jones, Sr. 
Christopher Jacobus 
John Johnson 
Richard Johnson 
George Keamor 
Jacob Knor 
John Koch 



John Keyser 
Martin Kreiter 
George Karst 
John Knor 
Mathias Knor 
Peter Keyser 



Nicholas Rittenhouse 
Charlotta Roush 
Leonard Stoneburner 
George Schreiber 
Michael Streets 
Henry Sharpnach 



John Keyser (Cordwainer) Jacob Snyder 



Jacob Keyser 
Arnst Kurtz 
David Knor 
Paul Kripner 
Peter Leibert 
John Lehman 
Christian Lehman 
Christopher Leist 
Daniel Lukin 
Melchior Meng 
Wollree Meng 
Sarah Macknet 
Jacob Moyer 
Christopher Meng 
Ann Peters 
Daniel Potts 
Thomas Rose 
Widow Raybold 



Peter Smith 
Christian Snyder 
George Sterner 
Adam Shissler 
John Starr 
Jacob Trout 
Jeremiah Trout 
George Unrue 
John Unrue 
Christian Warner 
Lenhart Wintergarst 
Phillip Weiver 
Casper Wetherholtz 
Palatial Webster 
Richard Wain 
Kelian Wise 
Jacob Whiteman 



After the completion of the Germantown water works in 
1851, the Fellowship Hose Company and the Germantown Hose 
Company came into existence and partly supplanted the older 
fire companies, because of the greater convenience and force of 
the stream of water which could then be taken directly from a 
fire plug. 

In the early days, invitations to funerals were sent by a 
special messenger, who called in at the door "Thyself and family 

are bidden to the funeral of at 3 o'clock to-morrow." 

After the interment, the relatives and friends were invited to 
return to the home of the deceased to partake of the funeral 
feast. A solemn, dignified behavior was expected throughout 
this feast, but, as wine and beer were not excluded from it, this 
was not always maintained. There were four principal burying 
grounds in Germantown at this time ; these were the Lower 
and the Upper Burying Grounds, the one connected with the 
Mennonite Church, and the one belonging to the Quaker Meet- 
ing. Some families preferred to bury their dead on their own 
grounds, so that private burying grounds were then common. 
Sad to relate, many of these private burial places have been badly 
neglected and in some cases entirely obliterated, even though 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



lO- 



their graveyards were the objects of the greatest interest and 
care to the early settlers. One of the best preserved private 
graveyards in the vicinity of Germantown is that of the Logan 
family at Stenton. 

Marriage among the German settlers was not the hasty, 
lightly regarded affair that it too often becomes in our modern 
days. For months before her wedding day Gretchen was spin- 
ning, weaving, bleaching, and dyeing the linens and woolens 
which were to prevent the shame of her coming empty handed 
to her husband. Hans on his part was laying up in store, and 




BURYING GROUND OF THE LOGANS AT STENTON 



working and planning so that Gretchen and he might have a 
home which they could call their own, albeit one but partly 
wrested from the virgin forest. Three times their banns had 
to be published in church and then, after their marriage by their 
favorite minister and the usual marriage feast with its some- 
what rough festivities,- off to the new home with its toils and 
rich though cjuiet rewards, both of which Gretchen had been 
well trained to share. "The Germans take great pains to produce 



2 OccasionaUy, in accordance with a German custom, a pair of poplar 
trees was planted in front of tlie house in which a marriage was being- 
celebrated. 



io6 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

in their children, not only habits of labour, but a love of it. They 
prefer industrious habits to money itself ; hence, when a young 
man asks the consent of his father to marry the girl of his choice, 
he does not inquire so much whether she be rich or poor ; or 
whether she possess any personal or mental accomplishments ; as 
whether she be industrious and acquainted with the duties of a 
good housewife."^ 

The little colony at Germantown experienced none 
of the horrors of Indian warfare. The bands of Indians 
which entered their borders were friendly ones that de- 
parted with many expressions of good will, after being 
feasted in the Market Square by the generous-hearted 
citizens. However, the depredations of the Indians on the 
western frontier of our State at the opening of the French and 
Indian War, gave to the village of Germantown its first great 
war excitement. The Indians had destroyed so many frontier 
homes and committed so many ruthless murders that there was 
grave danger, on account of the general indignation, to the 
friendly Indians, who had been converted through the efiforts 
of the Moravian missionaries. One such band of friendly 
Indians, which had fled to Lancaster for safety, was attacked, 
even while under the protection of the authorities, and 
wholesale slaughter of its defenceless people followed. 
Another band, which fled to Philadelphia to put themselves 
under the protection of Governor John Penn, was followed by 
a company of several hundred men with the avowed purpose of 
destro3dng them. This force was composed of Scotch-Irish 
frontiersmen from Paxton township, which was then in Lan- 
caster county. The pastor of the Paxton church made an effort 
to dissuade them from their purpose but they had been greatly 
enraged by Indian outrages in their vicinity, which was then 
on the frontier, and were too firmly fixed in their desire for 
revenge. They were met, however, at Germantown by Franklin 
and other prominent men who, backed by the determination of 
the Governor to defend the Indians, were able to dissuade them 
from their purpose. So that, aside from terrorizing the women 
and children of the little community and leaving some evidences 
of their skill with the rifle upon the weather-vane of the Dutch 
Reformed Church in the Market Square, no further harm was 

3 Benj. Rush, M. D., Essay on "Maniiers of the German Inhabitants 
of Pennsylvania." 



io8 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

wrought by this bloodless campaign which has gone down into 
local history as the "Invasion of the Paxton Boys." 

A more serious cause for alarm occurred in 1777 when, after 
defeating the x\merican army at the Brandywine and taking 
possession of Philadelphia, General Howe determined to leave 
the main portion of his army at Germantown rather than sub- 
ject it to the allurements of the City. The inhabitants had 
already experienced many of the excitements and distresses of 
the war, but they were soon to be visited by its actual horrors. 
The prudence of Washington had led him very early in the war 
to form a general plan of lines of retreat, each having some easily 
defended position as its stronghold. This has come to be known 
as his famous "quadrilateral", and the "strong ground near Ger- 
mantown" is where he expected to make his final stand wlien he 
retreated across New Jersey in 1776. Accordingly, he sent Gen- 
eral Putnam to fortify Philadelphia and this "safe place"* which 
extended from Germantown and Chestnut Hill around to the 
P^erkiomen Creek. 

The day following his defeat at the Brandywine, Washington 
retreated to Germantown, where he allowed his army two days 
of rest. He then moved towards Reading, fearing an attack on 
his stores at that place. Howe took advantage of this move to 
march his army to Germantown, where it arrived on the evening 
of September 25, 1777. The villagers and the citizens of Phila- 
delphia were in terror from fear of a repetition of the outrages 
and wanton destruction of property committed by the British 
army on its march through New Jersey. But, through Thomas 
\\^illing. Howe assured the citizens that those who remained 
quietly in their homes would not be molested. The next day 
Cornwallis with 3000 men took possession of the City; the main 
portion of the British army being left at Germantown. The 
40th Regiment, under Colonel Musgrave, was stationed in the 
field opposite the Chew Mansion. The main portion of the 
army was located on the street which crosses at Market Square, 
with the left wing under Knyphausen reaching to the Schuvlkill, 
and the right wing under Grant and Matthews extending towards 



4"Here the campaig-n of Trenton and Princeton was planned; here the 
army was swung around to meet Howe at Brandywine; here again it waited 
to decide between New York and Yorktown for the closing- campaign; 
here was the outpost of Valley Porg-e, and the key that held Howe a 
prisoner in Philadelphia until the Monmouth retreat ended almost in a 
fox-chase." — Scharf and Westcott's "History of Philadelphia." 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOIVN 109 

the York Road. The advance, composed of the 2d BattaHon of 
Light Infantry, was a mile beyond at Alt. Pleasant, with their 
pickets thrown out as far as Mt. Airy. Washington in the 
meantime marched to Pennybacker's Mill and from thence to 
Metuchen Hills, fifteen miles from Philadelphia. From here he 
determined to make one more efifort to save Philadelphia ; and, 
on the morning of the 4th of October, the inhabitants of Ger- 
mantown were aroused by the evidences of a deadly struggle 
going on in their midst. Washington had surprised Howe's 
army and his troops had penetrated to the center of the village. 
But, after a series of conflicts, particularly severe at the Chew 
Mansion, and on what is now the Elwood Johnson property, as 
well as in the neighborhood of the Mennonite Church, he was 
driven back and withdrew by the way of Chestnut Hill and the 
Perkiomen Pike. The horrors of the battle were increased by 
the dense fog which prevailed that morning and which helped 
to conceal the movements of the armies and the fate of friends 
and homes involved in the conflict. 

Little occurred after this to ruflle the peaceful current of 
affairs in the village until the yellow-fever became epidemic in 
Philadelphia, in 1793, when Germantown became the Mecca of 
the government officials and for those who were wealthy enough 
to be able to remove to this healthful locality. The growth of 
Germantown was now more rapid, although the question of 
transportation to and from the City was a serious one. Great 
was the excitement when, in 1830, it was announced that a rail- 
road was to be built from Germantown to Philadelphia. On the 
morning when the subscription-book was opened, the official in 
charge was almost mobbed by a throng of eager investors who 
believed their little town had a future of great promise. 



CHAPTER IX 



GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 

Although Germantown received a large proportion of the 
German immigrants up to and including the year 1702, not over 
two hundred German families came to Pennsylvania during that 
time, and most of them during the period from 1683 to 1685. Many 
of the immigrants who did not settle in Germantown, took up 
land belonging to the Frankfort Company along the Skippack 
Creek, in what is now Montgomery County. "They were nearly 
all Plattdeutsch, Low Germans, from Cleves, a Duchy in West- 
phalia." Pastorius wrote that, in 1684, Germantown had twelve 
houses and forty-two people and, late in 1687, that the cellars of 
sixty-four houses were being laid. The "Raths-buch of Ger- 
mantown", which was kept by Pastorius, says that, in 1701, there 
were "three score families, besides several single persons" in 
Germantown. This would seem to indicate that the first twelve 
houses were temporary structures, the more permanent buildings 
having been erected after the more accurate survey and division 
of lots in 1687. Townsend Ward, probably quoting from Zim- 
merman, says that "in 1745 Germantown had about 100 houses 
scattered along the Main Street to Whitemarsh." Like in Ger- 
man villages, the houses were in clusters and the farms extended 
back from them in long strips. There were few cross-streets 
because of the unwillingness of the farmers to have their land 
divided by roads. 

Germantown very early became noted for its healthfuhiess. 
It stands on high ground and, in the early days, was surrounded 
by picturesque forest scenery. After the Revolution, it began to 
be a favorite summer resort for rich Philadelphians. Hence, 
when that city was visited by the Yellow-fever Epidemic of 1793, 
the Federal and State governments promptly removed to Ger- 
mantown. Washington rented the large house. No. 5442 Main 
Street, from Colonel Isaac Franks. Jefferson and Attorney Gen- 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOIVN iii 

eral Randolph occupied the building afterwards used by the Ger- 
mantown Bank.^ Congress does not seem to have been in ses- 
sion during this period, although both it and the State Assembly 
were negotiating for the renting of the Germantown Academy 
building for their purposes. Governor Mifflin and Secretary of 
Commonwealth, Alexander J. Dallas, used the building 5504 
Main Street for the State business. When the yellow-fever 
again appeared in Philadelphia in 1798, both the Bank of North 
America and the Bank of Pennsylvania removed from the City 
to the Germantown Academy building. 

Previous to 1812. great numbers of Conestoga wagons, drawn 
by from six to eight horses, passed through Germantown on 




THE OLD CONESTOGA TEAM. 
The Heaviest Load ever hauled across the Alleghany Mountains, with Six Horses, weighed 10,013 pounds. 



their way to the City. The roads were bad, the Germantown 
Road in particular got the reputation of being the "worst road in 
the U. S.", having at all times frequent "holes filled only with 
mud and the curses of the teamsters", many going around by 
Frankford to avoid its ruts. These were the days of large gen- 
eral stores — "great stores". — for the teams would rather sell 
their loads in Germantown than attempt to reach the City in 
bad weather. 

The badness of the great roads leading into the City caused 
these "great country stores" to develop and prosper. Farmers 
sought a market for their surplus produce and would naturally 
have taken it to Philadelphia, but the roads were at times almost 
impassable. "To avoid such," Watson says, "farmers bringing 
produce could sell out their whole loads to Rex, and others, on 
Chestnut Hill, or at Stoneburners, Frvs and Millers, in German- 



1 Vice-President Adams lived in the Hamilton Mansion at Bush Hill. 



112 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

town. In return they could get salt, fish, plaster of Paris, clover 
and grass seed, all kinds of groceries and dry goods. Such stores 
were granaries for all kinds of grain, and received and cured 
hogs and beef. They all made money. You might see a dozen 
country wagons at a time about their premises. All this con- 
tinued until turnpikes insured safe passages." Then the farmers 
began to carry their products directly to the City and the pros- 
perity of these great stores began to wane. 

The condition of the road connecting Germantown with 
Philadelphia interfered seriously for many years with ready 
communication of any kind between the two places. As Ger- 
mantown was on the direct route from Philadelphia to Reading, 
as well as from Philadelphia to Bethlehem, and as its own indus- 
trial interests were of growing importance, this condition proved 
a detriment to its development. "The travel between the City 
and that borough being so great that heavy ruts were cut in the 
highway, which became a slough of mire in wet weather. In the 
spring of the year, especially, the way was only passable with 
the greatest difificulty. Wagons were bemired, stalled, and 
broken. Horses were sprained and weakened by the extraordi- 
nary efforts necessary to drag their loads ; and such was the bad 
character of the roads that practically, at certain periods of the 
year, there was non-intercourse between Philadelphia and Ger- 
mantown.''- This was true, at least, for wheeled vehicles, 
although even people on horseback had difficulty at times in 
getting through the mud. Hence, the building of turnpikes 
proved a great boon to Germantown. The first of these to be 
incorporated was "The Germantown and Reading Turnpike 
Road"; the act of incorporation being signed in March, 1799. 
It was to begin at the intersection of Front Street and Ger- 
mantown Road, and to pass through Germantown to the top of 
Chestnut Hill, and thence through Hickorytown, the Trappe and 
Pottstown to Reading. On February 12, 1801, "The German- 
town and Perkiomen Turnpike Company" was incorporated. This 
road began at Third and Vine Streets. Benjamin Chew was 
chosen as its president and John Johnson as its treasurer. A 
third turnpike company was incorporated in 1804, to be built 
"from Chestnut Hill through Flourtown to the Spring-House 
Tavern in Montgomery County." The first of these to be com- 



2 "History of Philadelphia."^ — Scharf and Westcott, Vol. I, p. 496. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 113 

pleted was the Germantown and Perkiomen road. Watson gives 
Casper Haines great credit for bringing it to a successful issue. 

There were few stage-lines in the Colonies prior to the 
French and Indian War. Scharf and Westcott mention the first 
one in Philadelphia as follows : "The new stage, in November, 
1756, left John Butler's sign of 'The Death of the Fox', in Straw- 
berry Alley, for New York. The trip was made in three days, 
and a return in three days more, made one trip weekly between 
city and city — fare two pence per mile."^ Watson speaks of one 
lunning between Germantown and Philadelphia, in 1761, — "In 
1761 Jacob Coleman began, from the King of Prussia Inn, the 
first stage with an aivning, to run to Philadelpliia, three times a 
week, to the George Inn, southwest corner of Second and Arch 
streets. He afterwards ran a stage to Reading." This was fol- 
lowed by other stage lines and by the Reading and Bethlehem 
stages making Germantown one of their stopping places. But 
what between bad roads and cold and springless'* stage-coaches 
the travellers of early days had a disagreeable and tedious time 
of it. And the people of old Germantown had little in the way of 
easy communication with other places to change their provincial 
character and make evident their proximity to the largest City 
in the Colonies. Carriages were scarce and the old rumbling 
stage-coach running between Germantown and the "Old Rotter- 
dam Inn," at Third and Race Streets, and the occasional stage 
from Reading and Bethlehem, were not to be depended upon for 
anything but vexatious delays. But the coming of the railroad 
changed all this and was the means of greatly altering the aspect 
of the village. 

Some Germantown gentlemen had visited the gravity rail- 
road at Mauch Chunk, in 1827, and had come home filled with 
the idea of better communication with the City for Germantown. 
Accordingly, they secured a charter, sold their stock to eager pur- 
chasers, and, in 1832, completed a railroad from Ninth and Poplar 
Streets to Shoemaker's Lane. The rails were laid to German- 
town by the beginning of June, 1832, and the road was opened 
for trafi^ic on June 7th. "There were nine cars built in the style 
of the mail-coach of the day, except that they were much larger. 



3 Before 1806, when the bridge over the Delaware at Trenton was built, 
passengers going- to New York went by boat from Pliiladelphia to Burling- 
ton or Trenton, and from tlience to New York by stage. 

4 Steel springs were not used on stages until about ISIO. 




THE MAIL STAGE, 

From Philadelphia for Bethlehem, Tforthampton, ISa- 
zftreth, Wilkesbarre, Montrose, Owego, Geneva, Itha- 
ca, Canadaigua, Buffaloe, and Niagara, 

Three times a week. 

Will start fi'om Mr. Oeor^e Fehe's Hotel. Si-^n of General Washington' 
No. 6, -north 4th street, and Mr. nanid Lebo's White fiwan Inn, No. iOC, 
Ravc sUeet, Philadelphia, every Sunday, Tuesday and Tbursday, at 4, A. 
M. awl proceed by the following routes, tl.rougli Germantown, Flouertown, 
Wliitemarsh, Montgomery sqare, Quakertowti & Ferysbarg, and arrive at 
Beilikliem at 5 p. m. leave Btihlcheni the next mormng, & arrive at WUkis- 
barre in the evening, leave fVUkesbarre the succeedieg day at 4, a. m. 
and arrive by 7, p. M.ai Owfgo, and in the same manner continue through 
the whole ronte. Persons desiring to go to Dnffaloe^ the Falls of JVYagaro 
or Canada, can by this line perform the journey in five days, and lodge ev- 
ery night at the first-rate houses. Returning 

THE GnEAT .rORTHERX STAGES, 

Via Buffaloe, &c, will arrive at their offices in Philadelphia every Jfonday, 
Wednesday and Friday, by 5, p. m. 

BERWICK. 

The Stage for Berwick, will leave Betlilehetn every Friday immiing, acd 
di rive at Berwick t!ie next day, at 2 p. m. leave Berwick on Taeaday, ami 
arrive at Bethlehem, on Wednesday, at 1 p. m. There is likewise a line of 
Stages from Bethlehem to JVe.w Fork, Beading, Lancaster and Easton, 

Persons whose wish it is to visit tiie Mineral Svrings at Schoolet/^s 
Jlountahi, arc ini'orraed that this i» the best route, and that they can be ac- 
commodated at Bethlehem on reasonable terms. 

The Fioprietois respectfully inform the public, that theyhaTC good horses 
and Stages, throughout this extensive line — the drivera,sober,«xperienced 
and ol>liging-The diflerent Stage-houses are noted InaSi-and moderate in 
♦heir charges 

la order to conform to tke times, the proprietor* have 

Reduced fJie Fare 

To Bethlehem, only Three Dollars, 
From Bethlehem to IFtZfcesfcarre, Four OollarSf 

And so proportioned throughout the whole route — Ba^age at the risque rf 
the owner. Way Passengers 6 cents per mile. 

The proprietor* cannot but flatter themselves from the superior accommo- 
dations, that the above inducements will insure the continuance of tibe 
public favor. 

The Bethlehem ^ Philadelphia 7 
Stage Proprietors, \ 

April SI 18«0i 



MAII. STAGE ADVERTISEMENT 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



115 



with a driver's seat in front, and with another seat at the back. 
The tops of the cars were also fixed with a central double bench, 
running from the front to the back, with iron guard-railings at 
the side. There were seats for twenty inside passengers and 
fifteen or sixteen outside.""' This was the first Philadelphia rail- 
road and, although the cars w^ere for awhile drawn by horses and 
the time to Germantown was three-quarters of an hour, this was 
great speed as compared with the usual rate of that day. Horse 
power was used on this railroad for about six months. In No- 
vember, 1832, the "locomotive-engine", known as "Old Iron- 
sides," which was built by Matthias W. Baldwin, took the place 




"OLD IRONSIDES" 

of the horses, a horse having been required for each car. It 
readily drew four cars loaded with passengers to Germantown, 
making the six miles in twenty-eight minutes. The railroad was 
then extended so that passengers were landed in the road where 
Price Street has since been opened. The ticket office was in a 
little building at the side of the Main Street. A gravity car 
used to run unaided from Germantown to the City at 6 A. M., 
each day. There was a bell on the front platform to give warn- 
ing of its approach. The wheezy little engines. "Eclipse" and 
"Fort Erie", were afterwards placed on the road and rendered 
excellent service, although they occasionally required the assist- 
ance of the passengers at the steep grade near Duy's Lane. 

The growth of the place vv^as now more rapid so that, when it 
was consolidated with the City in 1854, it could boast of 6500 in- 



5 See Scharf and Westcotf s "History of Philadelphia," Vol. Ill, p. 2177. 



ii6 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

habitants. But even then Captain Oldmixon, R. N., possibly 
because he looked through English eyes, thought its railroad 
rather an inconsequent affair. He visited Philadelphia the next 
year (1855) and wrote, "I have glanced at the short, little, domes- 
tic, easy railroad of six miles to Germantown, with its serious 
conductor, the Major. Its station is in Ninth Street; coming in 
from the country, along the center of the street its quiet speed 
slackened to a gentle trot, ringing its bell, perhaps a wagon or a 
cart trotting along amicably beside it." And again "this Ger- 
mantown is a great blessing to all those easy enough to have a 
country house ; indeed, a great many clerks o£ late years, and 
tradesmen well off live here, coming backwards and forwards six 
miles by the railway in half an hour, for it is a slow domestic bit 
of road, and its smoking fiery horse goes quietly, to allow the 
boys to run on before it, occasionall}^ to cross it, and laugh at 
the danger if any. Some of the numerous passengers pay by 
the year, a single fare is fifteen cents." 

The coming of the railroad did a great deal toward American- 
izing Germantown, which up to that time had been largely Ger- 
man in its characteristics, with the German tongue still heard in 
most of its churches and commonly on the street. Consolida- 
tion completed this work and the inhabitants rapidly took on city 
ways, although the place still retained something of its village- 
like appearance, possibly because most of its houses were built 
along its one long main street. "Germantown, a long straggling 
village six miles off, the healthiest spot anywhere around the 
city. This Germantown for many years remained in its old 
stone-housed, steep-roofed, farm-yarded state, in one street of 
three miles long, for a space out of the memory of the oldest in- 
habitant: but they are now (1855) building m it like mad; a 
single line of rail runs to it, north, out of Ninth Street, and 
everybody wants to live there, very naturally. Worn out as 
farms it cuts up well in building lots * * '■= Here the coun- 
try is very agreeably undulated ; the hills and valleys are cutting 
out on each side of the one interminable Dutch street, into lanes 
full of fine villas and cottages ornee." — Oldmixon. 

Watson gives the following interesting description of the ap- 
pearance of Germantown as he first knew it : "Those who now 
visit Germantown, and notice the general neatness and whiteness 
of the front faces of the houses, and see the elegance of some 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 117 

of the country-seats, can have httle idea of how differently it 
looked in 1814, when the writer first became a resident in the 
place. Then, most of the houses were of dark, moss-grown 
stone, and of sombre and prison-like aspect, with little old- 
fashioned windows, and monstrous corner chimneys, formed of 
stone. Now the chimneys are rebuilt of brick, and taken from 
the corners ; and nearly all of the front walls are plastered over 
in imitation of marble ; besides this, the whole town is laid with 
good foot-pavements," thus relieving the street-walkers from 
the great annoyance of muddy feet. These changes were affected 
by the frequent expostulations and suggestions of writers in the 
Germantown Gazette, among whom the present writer was to 
be numbered. Numerous shade-trees were also introduced along 
the streets, so as to add to the charm of the promenade, the whole 
length of this remarkably long town ; — sometimes called Long- 
villc, in reference to this, its peculiar characteristic. Many of 
the old houses, now of two stories, have been raised from one 
and a half stories. Before the Revolution the most of the houses 
were but one and a half stories, with high double-hipped roofs." 
The period of prosperity following the Civil War greatly in- 
creased the business population of Germantown, and the influ- 
ences of the Centennial Exhibition gave it. in common with other 
parts of Philadelphia, quite an impetus in its building operations. 
The people of Germantown continued to prosper and their 
numbers steadily to increase until the Civil AA^ar began. 
During that dark period they gave their thought and interests to 
the loyal sons who went out from among them to fight for the 
maintenance of the Union and for the welfare of the nation which 
their ancestors had done so much to bring into being. 



6 "An ordinance for the Regulating- and Paving of Footways in the 
Borougli" was passed December 9, 1S45. Tills ordinance was re-enacted 
after Germantown became officially a borough in 1847, and reciuired "Pave- 
ments of good hard bricks or smooth flag-stones well jointed and laid on 
sand." 



CHAPTER X 



MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 

The German settlers were a sociable people and very fond 
of their homes, over which they exercised the most rigid rule. 
Although they were industrious, hardworking and frugal, they 
were liberal in providing that which was substantial and com- 
fortable for the body, and especially generous in provision for 
the visitor and invited guest. Their first houses were no doubt 
built of logs and were small. Following a Dutch custom, they 
had their gables towards the street. This street was at first little 
more than a road through a "clearing" and full of stones and 
stumps. But the thrifty villagers soon had it lined with peach 
trees and with evidences of the industrial pursuits followed by 
their craftsmen. After securing the titles to their properties, 
they erected more substantial houses ; but even these were built 
small, owing to the difficulty of heating them. "Germantown 
in 1720 was a rambling village of but few houses, extending 
along a single street officially known as the North Wales Road, 
a mere dirt lane without paving or kerbing. Their houses were 
almost without exception plain one-story structures, the ground 
floor consisting of two rooms. The front room was generally 
built of stone, and the back or kitchen of logs.^ This was in 
reality the living room of the family. The front part of the 
house was covered with a high hipped roof, which formed a low 
bed chamber ; the gables were of clap-boards and pierced for a 
small window, which gave light and air to the chamber. Many 
of the roofs v/ere covered with brick tiles after the German 
fashion ; others, again, were of split oak shingles. The front or 
street doors were all divided in the middle, so as to admit air and 
at the same time keep out any domestic or other animals. The 
doors were furnished with a porch and a bench at either side 
of the door-jamb. The small windows were closed by two- 



iWatson says the first houses were plastered with clay ard straw 
mixed. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMAXTOWN 



119 



hinged sashes, opening inside and having small panes of glass set 
in the leaden sash. It was not an unusual thing to find in the 
rear of the houses thin sheets of horn substituted in lieu of glass, 
as this had the advantage of being cheaper and unbreakable. "- 

By 1748, many more pretentious houses had taken the place 
of these smaller ones, judging from Kalms account upon visiting 
Germantown at that time — "this town has only one street, but 
is near two English miles long. It is for the greatest part in- 




DUTCii DOOiaVAY OF THE JOliXSoX HOUSE 



habited by Germans, who from time to time come from their 
country to North America and settle here, because they enjoy 
such privileges as they are not possessed of anywhere else. Most 
of the inhabitants are tradesmen and make almost everything in 
such quantity and perfection that in a short time this province 
will want very little from England, its mother country. Most 
of the houses were built of the stone which is mixed with glim- 
mer (mica?) and found everywhere towards Philadelphia, but 
is more scarce further on. Several houses however were made 



2"The German Sectarians of Pennsylvania" — Saelise, Vol. II, p. 44. 



I20 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

of brick. They were commonly two stories high and sometimes 
higher. The roofs consisted of shingles of the white cedar wood. 
Their shape resembled that of the roofs in Sweden, but the 
angles they formed at the top were either obtuse, right-angled, 
or acute, according as the slopes were steep or easy. They 
sometimes formed either the half of an octagon, or the half of a 
dodecagon. 

Many of the roofs were made in such a manner that they could 
be walked upon, having a balustrade round them. Alany of the 
upper stories had balconies before them, from whence the people 
had a prospect into the street. The windows, even those in the 
third story, had shutters. Each house had a tine garden."^ 

At first furniture and clothing were home-made and necessar- 
ily plain, though always strong and durable. The German house- 
wife spun the tow, flax, and wool which her husband raised. The 
itinerant tailor came into the home and helped her to make 
clothing for husbands and sons from the goods woven from her 
threads and yarns by herself, by the hired weaver, or by the 
village weaver if the home contained no hand-loom. Home-made 
tables and benches of pine or maple, with the inevitable high- 
backed settee and deep chest for the Sunday clothes, formed the 
furniture of the room, which was at the same time kitchen and 
living room. 

The family ate their breakfast of rye-bread* and cheese, toast 
and home-brewed beer, or bread and a good-sized wooden noggin 
of porridge, from wooden trenchers. The serving-maid, inden- 
tured servant, and "redemptioner" ate with them ; for, though 
classes of society were well defined in these early days, each 
was so dependent upon the other and the teachings of their 
churches were so emphatic on the vanity of rank, that great 
freedom and good will prevailed between the serving and the 
served. Besides, the redemptioner was often both a scholar 
and a man of means, who allowed the captain of the vessel m 
which he came to sell his services for a short term into a family 
where he could learn the language and ways of the new country, 
or he was in temporary distress because his goods had been care- 
lessly detained or lost. The practice of indenturing children to 



3 "Travels Into North America." — Peter Kalm, Vol. I, p. S9. 

4There were three kinds of rye-bread made by the German colonists: 
Schwartzbrod or black bread; Kuemmelbrod, rye-bread witli caraway seed 
in it; and Pumpernickel, rye-bread made into large loaves without yeast 
and regarded as especially nutritious. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAN TOWN 



121 



service, in order that they might learn trades or because the size 
of the home family made their services there unnecessary, was 
followed quite generally. Dinners and suppers were more preten- 
tious meals ; for them pork and game, which was abundant, to- 
gether with the products of the home vegetable garden, were 
mixed with various forms of dough and formed " dishes the 




SPINNING 



mysteries of which are knoAvn only to the Dutch and German 
cooks. Those engaged at hard manual labor had a substantial 
lunch furnished to them in the middle of the forenoon. After 
supper, the family gathered around the wide mouth of the open 
fire-place, where the cooking had been done in large iron and 



122 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

earthenware pots. These pots were hung upon cranes or set in 
the hve coals ; the "Dutch oven" was so formed that coals could 
also be heaped upon its lid. Meat was roasted before the fire in 
primitive days, suspended by a strong hempen string which was 
fastened either to the mantel or to the low kitchen ceiling. Then 
iron supports for the roast, such as jacks and turnspits, came into 
use. "In well-to-do kitchens these were superceded by 'the roast- 
ing kitchen', or Dutch oven. These succeeded the jacks ; they 
were a box-like arrangement open on one side which when in use 
was turned to the fire. Like other utensils of the day, they often 
stood up on legs, to bring the open side before the blaze. A little 
door at the back could be opened for convenience in basting the 
roast. These kitchens came in various sizes for roasting birds 
or joints, and in them bread was occasionally baked. The bake- 
kettle, which in some communities was also called a Dutch oven, 
was preferred for baking bread. It was a strong kettle, standing, 
of course, on stout, stumpy legs, and when in use was placed 
among the hot coals and closely covered with a strong, metal, con- 
vex cover, on which coals were also closely heaped."^ After bricks 
came into general use, the German housewives had "bake-ovens," 
built either as part of the huge kitchen chimney or in the yard 
nearby. These were large arched ovens with a flat floor, made 
of brick, and either connected with the flue of the kitchen chim- 
ney or built with a chimney of their own. They were thoroughly 
heated by a fire of long, dry wood ; the coals and ashes were then 
quickly scraped out and the bread, cakes, and pies deftly made to 
take their place. The iron door of the oven was then closed and 
the chimney-draft shut off until the baking was nicely completed 
by the heat retained in the bricks composing the oven. 

Often the only light in the room was that coming from the 
burning logs of the huge fire-place, though sometimes it re- 
ceived the assistance of a dipped tallow-candle v/hich stood on a 
shelf held up by wooden pegs driven into the wall. In later days, 
lamps that burned melted tallow or lard and, in wealthier homes, 
lard-oil, sperm-oil, or burning fluid/' came into use. At first these 
lamps were simply flat receptacles for tallow, lard, or grease with 
a loose cloth or cotton wick hanging from the point of the bowl, 
the whole lamp being very much on the style of the old Roman 



5 "Home Life in Colonial Days." — Alice Morse Earle, pp. 65-66. 

"Porter's fluid" was one of the last of these used before they were all 
supplanted by the use of petroleum. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOIVN 123. 

hiccrnac. But later on they were made more nearly of the shape 
of our modern oil lamps with the exception that the wick, which 
commonly was a round bundle of thick cotton threads, was con 
tained in a cylindrical tube. The lamps using oils and burtiing 
fluid usually had two or more such wick-tubes. In all of these 
lamps the wick had to be regulated with a large iron needle or 
some similar pointed instrument. Brass was a favorite material 
for the later forms of candlesticks and lamps, although glass and 
pewter also came to be used extensively for lamps. 

One of the most serious problems confronting the colonists 
was that of obtaining fire. As friction-matches were not in- 
vented until 1827, up to that time friction and "sparking" were the 
only means of obtaining fire. Various appliances were used for 
securing fire by friction. They were all based on the principle 
of producing sufficient heat, by the twirling of a small stick of 
hard wood against a hollow spot in a piece of soft wood, to kindle 
loose dry material lying in this hollow place. But the main de- 
pendence was placed upon securing a spark, of sufiicient intensity 
to ignite some inflammable material, by striking a flint a cjuick 
slanting blow with a piece of steel. Some resorted to the ex- 
pedient of flashing some powder in the flint-locks of their mus- 
kets to ignite a twist of tow hanging from the pan of the lock. 
As it was so tedious a thing to secure fire, great pains were taken 
to retain live coals on the hearth by covering them carefully each 
night with ashes. If by any mischance the fire went out an 
obliging neighbor, if near enough, was often called upon for the 
loan of live coals to renew it. Bedrooms were unheated. But 
this was no great hardship, for they slept between heavy feather- 
beds filled with down plucked from geese and ducks raised by 
the provident housewife. In cold weather a warming pan was 
drawn slowly over the sheets of the bed of the invited guest. For 
his benefit, and on festival occasions, the gudewife also took 
down her well-polished pewter and brought out her bits of rare 
china which were cherished treasures of the fatherland. 

The farmer and laborer wore coarse linen shirts, flannel 
blouses, breeches of tanned deerskin, woolen stockings and neat- 
skin shoes closely set with flat-headed nails driven into their 
heavy soles. In summer, children and many of their elders 
went barefoot. The artisan could be distinguished by his heavy 
leather apron reaching from his chest to below his knees. Caps 



124 HISTORY OP OLD GERMANTOWN 

and hats made from the skins of muskrat, raccoon or beaver, or 
three-cornered hats of coarse wool, formed the favorite headgear 
of men and boys. The short dress of the woman was made of 
worsted, hnsey-woolsey, or Hnen, according to the season. On 
her head she wore a white linen cap, it being, so affirms Watson, 
a rare thing to see a bare-headed woman. On Sunday, the man 
dressed in linen or worsted, and put on a broad cravat and shoes 
with silver or brass buckles ; while the woman added a "stom- 
acher," a bright apron, a bit of ribbon, and whatever heirlooms 
she might have in the way of laces or jewelry. There was no 
diiTerence in these early days between the dress of Quakers and 
others, as the Friends had not yet found it necessary to protest 
against the extravagances in dress which appeared later. 

As ampler means accumulated, and the settlers felt secure 
in their property rights, solid stone mansions replaced the smaller 
and more temporary dwellings. Mahogany sideboards, and fur- 
niture covered with damask and Paduasoy were purchased; 
heavy silver waiters, bowls and tankards, together with Delft- 
ware and English china, appeared in the dining-room ; a high 
clock was secured for the hall ; and in the parlor was seen afi 
occasional little table or cabinet of marquetry work and a har- 
monica, or perhaps even a harpsichord. Carpets now (about 
1750) replaced the old sanded floors; but they covered only the 
center of the room, the furniture being arranged around the edge. 
Pictures painted on glass, and mirrors set in narrow frames, also 
became more common ; and the whitewashed walls were, a little 
later, covered with paper above the wainscoting. The Germans 
had brought with them the idea of cast-iron fire-boxes or stoves, 
which were built into the wall and supplied wuth fuel from the 
adjoining room. At first the settlers adopted the idea of the 
English open hearth, because of the abundance of fire-wood ; but, 
by 1741, they were casting rectangular stoves, which had deco- 
rated plates that were either set into the wall of the room or into 
the jamb of the chimney. These came to be called "German 
stoves", and were cast in open sand. The Bible scenes with 
texts, the pictures with morals, and the other ornamentation of 
their outside plates,'^ furnish good evidence of how the decora- 
tive impulse was transferred from the valley of the Rhine to the 



7See "The Decorated Stove Plates of the Pennsylvania Germans," by 
Henry C. Mercer, 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 125 

forests of the new world. Christopher Saur is credited with 
casting some of these stoves in Germantown about the same 
time (1742J that FrankHn first made his metal open-grate. By 
1760, six-plate stoves, which were detached from the wall and 
connected with the chimney by means of a stove-pipe, had sup- 
planted the German wall-stove. These were known as "Dutch 
stoves", and were the first form of what developed into the ten- 
plate stove with its oven for cooking and baking, as well as its 
great capacity for heating. These improved iiieans of heating, 
combined with the larger windows with their little panes of glass 
set in lead frames, greatly added to the cheeriness and comfort 
of the homes. 

The young people now began to dress more gaih'. My lady 
appeared on the street in flounced petticoat vv^ell distended by 
hoops, tightly-laced stomacher richly embroidered in gold, with 
point-lace falling over her wrists, with high-heeled satin slippers 
on her dainty feet, and having either a little hat perched upon her 
high-dressed hair or a green silk calash bonnet which she could 
raise or lower over her head by means of a cord which she held 
in her hand. The young gallant strutted by her side in lavender 
silk or velvet coat, cut square and having overlapping tails 
stiffened with wire or buckram. The coat was left wide open, 
to show his richly embroidered low-cut waistcoat with its wide 
pockets for his snuff-box and bonbonniere. The sleeves of his 
coat were short, in order to show the ruftles of his fine linen shirt. 
The waistcoat was long that it might meet the short blue silk 
small-clothes which, lacking suspenders to hold them up, reached 
but little above the hips. Silk stockings, square-toed shoes with 
high red heels and small silver buckles, point-lace cravat, a tie- 
wig surmounted by a small cocked hat laced with gold or silver 
galloon, and a richly decorated sword, completed the outfit. 

While the early Friends were not adverse to bright colors, 
as early as 1726, some of their women found it necessary to send 
out the following protest from their Yearly Meeting at Burling- 
ton against "that immodest fashion of hooped petticoats, or the 
imitation of them, either by something put into their petticoats 
to make them set full, or wearing more than is necessary or any 
other imitation whatsoever, which we take to be but a branch 
springing from the same corrupt root of pride. And also that 
none of our friends accustom themselves to wear the sfowns with 



126 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

superfluous folds behind, but plain and decent ; nor go with 
aprons; nor to wear superfluous gathers or plaits in their caps 
or pinners; nor to wear their hair dressed high behind; neither 
to cut or lay their hair on their foreheads or temples. 

"xA.nd that Friends be careful to avoid wearing striped shoes, 
or red or white-heeled shoes or clogs, or shoes trimmed with 
gaudy colors. 

"Likewise that all Friends be careful to avoid all superfluity 
of furniture in their houses, and as much as may be to refrain 
using gaudy flowers or striped calicoes and stuflrs. 

"And also that no Friends use that irreverent practice of 
taking snuff, or handing snuff-boxes one to the other in meetings. 

"Also that Friends avoid the unnecessary use of fans in 
meetings, lest it divert the mind from the more inward and 
spiritual exercise which all ought to be concerned in." 

Although Friends now began to dress in graver colors, they 
used the finest sort of materials. "They are remarkable for the 
choice of the finest linens, muslins,^ and silks. Elegant fans 
play between their fingers." So testified a writer of that day. 
And he added that the young clung to their bright colors and 
"Ribbons please young Quakeresses as well as others." 

For many years there was little change in the general cut and 
appearance of the clothing — what change there was being confined 
mainly to the colors worn and to the style of arranging the hair — 
but a great variety of materials and articles of adornment, many of 
them with names strange to us, came into use. The following 
IS but a partial list : grograms, harabines, sooloots, grassetts, 
chinus. belladine silks, cotton romals, penascas, double and single 
sleetas, broad and narrow cadis, damask Florells, garlix, watered 
barrogans, striped ducapes, mantuas, cherryderries. silk dun- 
nadars, chex. bunts, chelloes, seletins, cawls, mantlets, pilareens. 
and spencers. The variety of wigs worn by men at diff'erent 
periods is also large — English periwigs, perukes of English hair, 
bob-tail wigs or simply "bobs", bag-wigs, scratch-wigs, scratch 
bob-wigs, cut-wigs, long grisette dress wigs, and tie-wigs. 

Whatever our thought about the dress of our Revolutionary 
and pre-Revolutionary ancestors, we must admit that there was 
an air of dignified refinement m it which no stvle of dress since 



8 These muslins were imported from India, no cotton being raised in 
America at that time. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 127 

that time has equalled. It was a time of stately manners and 
dignified behavior, to which the plainness and straightness of the 
furniture no doubt contributed ; and, dearly though our German- 
town burgher loved to lean over the lower half of his Dutch door 
and gossip with a passing neighbor or to sit on his stoop, smok- 
ing a long pipe of a summer's evening, with his family gathered 
about him, if we could have met him on the street with his three- 
cornered hat, powdered wig, "swallow-tail coat" with gold or 
silver buttons, his black silk vest, his knee-breeches, black silk 
stockings, silver-buckled shoes, and with a staff in his hand, we 
would have instinctively bowed to him as to one of gentle birth. 

The French Revolution greatly changed the manner of dress 
in America, because of the sympathy of its people with the cause 
of liberty in France. Their ardor led them to adopt many of the 
fashions of dress of the nation that had so recently shown us 
such effective friendship. Trowsers or pantaloons now began 
to supplant the small-clothes which had been the fashion for so 
many years. These pantaloons were sometimes loose and baggy, 
at other times skin-tight with a bell-shape at the ankles. The 
vest was greatly abridged in length and made either single or 
double breasted. A great variety in styles of head-gear came in 
rapid succession. The "poke" bonnet was first worn about the 
year 1800 — at the lime when men were wearing hats with cone- 
shaped crowns not unlike those still worn by the Tyrolese. Sil- 
ver watches of large size were carried by men ; Avhile women car- 
ried gold snuff-boxes, each with its small mirror, on the inside 
of the lid, for a sly peep to see if the head-dress and rouge were 
intact. During all this time the beard and mustache were rigidly 
barred from society ; a smooth face being one of the marks of 
good breeding. "Blackball", a mixture of lamp-black and suet, 
and "dubbing", a grease used by tanners, were in use in lieu ol 
shoe polish. And my lady is said to have cleaned her teeth with 
a rag dipped in snuff. 

Hunting, fishing, swimming, and skating — a favorite pastime 
of the Dutch in their home land — afforded the principal amuse- 
ments for many years. To these must be added such pleasures 
and excitements as came from marriage-feasts ; from such gala 
days as Butcherings, when the neighbors gathered to help kill 
the hogs and to make the liver-puddings and sausages ; Corn- 
huskings or Husking Bees ; Apple Butter Frolics, when apples 



128 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN. 

were pared, and sliced, and boiled in cider until converted into a 
rich jam ; Cellar Diggings and Raisings, when ihey helped to dig 
the cellar or to raise the framework of house or barn. On all 
such occasions the gudewife's cooking and the pleasures of 
neighborly intercourse and friendly competition were the only 
rewards expected or that would have been accepted. Horse- 
racing, cock-fighting, and even bull-baiting were not unknown ; 
the yard of one of the old Germantown inns being pointed out 
as a favorite place for the latter. Young people played games 
and danced, although there were no schools for dancing much 
before 1750. Then came dance-parties and balls at which contra- 
dances and the stately minuet were the favorites, although vari- 
ous French dances also soon began to appear. Sleighing parties 
and singing-schools came in after the Revolution ; and spelling 
schools became very popular as a profitable evening diversion 
after the publication, in 1783, of Webster's Spelling-book — a book 
which has had by far the largest circulation of any work pub- 
lished in America.^ 

Although the strong Quaker element in Germantown served 
to give a more or less sober tone to its society, yet the social in- 
clinations of the descendants of Dutch and German ancestors, 
who formed the predominating element of its population up to 
1830, led its people to make the most of all holidays and festive 
occasions. The wealth, travel, and social intercourse resulting 
from its important manufactures and trade soon raised many of 
its people to a high social plane; the attractiveness of the beau- 
tifully located village brought from Philadelphia some of its best 
citizens; and the interest in education manifested even before 
the Revolution in the unusually large percentage of schools in 
the place ; all combined to build upon the industry and moralitv 
of its early settlers a history, for this suburb of a great city, 
which is indeed unique. We are indebted to our German fore- 
fathers for the introduction of the Christmas festival and New 
Year's calls. We are also indebted to them for the excellent 
cooking which made Germantown inns in the good old davs 
places of favorite resort for many a merry party of young people 
from the "City." 

These were the days, in Germantown, of solid stone houses 
with hand-hewn timbers, hand-carved wood-work, and hand- 



sUpwards of 31,000,000 copies of this book have been sold. 



HISTORY OP OLD GERMAXTOIVN 129 

wrought nails, hinges, and locks— the days when everybody 
worked hard, ate heartily, and often drank too freely from the 
punch-bowl and decanter found in every home ; but yet the 
days when its people were bound closely together — master and 
apprentice, mistress and bound-girl — by their common interests 
and their common knowledge of each other's strong points and 
failings. And these were the people of whom Governor Thomas 
said, in 1738, "This Province has been for some years the asylum 
of the distressed Protestants of the Palatinate, and other parts 
of Germany; and I believe it may with truth be said that the 
present flourishing condition of it is in a great measure owing to 
the Industry of these people ; and should any discouragement 
divert them from coming hither, it may well be apprehended that 
the value of your lands will fall, and your advance to wealth be 
much slower ; for it is not altogether the goodness of the soil, but 
the number and the industry of the people, that makes a flourish- 
ing country." 



PART II 

Detailed History of Germantown 

hy 

C. HENRY KAIN 

DR. NAAMAN H. KEYSER 



INTRODUCTORY 

The original limits of Germantown were from a point four- 
teen perches south of Wister Street to Washington Lane, but in 
the present work the name will be considered in a more general 
sense. The settled portion of the old town lay almost exclu- 
sively along the line of Germantown Avenue, or Alain Street, as 
it was then called, hence the present plan contemplates the fol- 
loAving of this main thoroughfare with but little divergence. The 
various properties are treated in consecutive order, as far as pos- 
sible, although there are some deviations because of the divis- 
ions of property which have taken place, and the consequent 
alteration of property lines. 

In the charming papers of Townsend Ward, originally pub- 
lished in the Pennsylvania Magazine under the title of "77;r Ger- 
mantozvn Road and its Associations;" the numbers of the various 
properties are given as they existed at that time. The number- 
ing was also given in "Ancient and Modern Gcnnantoivn and Chest- 
nut Hill" by Rev. S. F. Hotchkin, and in "The Inhabitants of Ger- 
niantouni and Chestnut Hill in i8op," by Thomas H. Shoemaker, 
published in Vols. 15 and 16 of the Pennsylvania Magazine. 
Since the publication of the works mentioned, the numbers of 
the houses have all been changed, in some instances more than 
once, so that it is frequently difficult for the reader to identify 
places of importance. It has therefore been thought that it 
would be of general interest to indicate, in connection with each 
property, its numbering as given by the authorities named. 

One serious difficulty that confronts the writer in dealing 
with the early history of the German settlements in Pennsylvania 
is the extreme variation in the spelling of proper names, even 
in deeds and other legal documents. Individuals were not even 
uniform in the signing of their own names. An attempt has been 
made, however, to follow the form most frequently used by the 
individual himself, except in the case of quotations from other 
sources. 



STENTON 

Just upon the southern border of Germantown, and but a 
short distance east of Wayne Junction, still stands old Stenton, 
the ancient home of the Logans, and one of the most interesting 
colonial mansions in the vicinity of Philadelphia — interesting not 
only because of its historic associations, but also because it is an 
exceedingly well-preserved specimen of colonial architecture. 
Built by James Logan, the friend and secretary of William Penn, 
it has continued in the Logan family ever since. The historian 
Watson gives the date of its erection as 1727, l)ut an inscription 
on the fire-back of one of the fire-places is "1. L. 1728." It is 
certain that James Logan was residing there in 1732, although 
it is probable that the main dwelling was not entirely finished 
until 1734. 

The stately old mansion has not been used as a residence 
for many years, but since May, 1902, it has been in the care of 
the Colonial Dames, who have leased the place for a term of 
years, and are doing much to restore the property to its original 
appearance. The ladies of the association have also made con- 
siderable progress in bringing together and arranging in the old 
mansion a valuable collection of relics of colonial days. In the 
reception room to the right of the main entrance is a collection 
of old fire-arms such as were used in colonial and Revolutionary 
times. Among the articles of interest especially pertaining to 
the Logan family may be mentioned a sofa, a child's cradle, 
chairs, and a quaint old mahogany side-board. The last named 
is a queer old piece of furniture. It is so arranged as to conceal 
each separate piece of silverware in a compartment especially 
fitted for it. Pewter platters, marked with the monograms of 
James Logan and their successive owners, are also exhibited. 
In one of the rooms is a life-size oil portrait of James Logan, 
copied from the original, which is in the possession of Albanus 
C. Logan, who is also the owner of several other portraits of 
members of the Logan family. Beside the Logan relics, there 
are many others belonging to the colonial period. The members 



136 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 

of the association regard these reHcs and mementoes as only 
the nucleus of a greater and more comprehensive collection which 
they expect ultimately to accumulate. 

The Logans trace their lineage back to an ancient Scottish 
family — the Logans of Restalrig. The last Logan. Baron of 
Restalrig, died in 1600. Eight years after his death he was tried 
lor being concerned in the "Gowrie conspiracy." It seems rather 
an absurd thing, and not at all in accord with American ideas of 
justice, to place a man on trial in court some years after his 
death ; but there was a canny purpose in the trial, which was to 
secure the confiscation of the dead man's estates. As a result of 
the legal proceedings, the Logan estates in Scotland were de- 
clared forfeited, and the sons of Sir Robert Logan settled in 
Ireland, taking up their residence at Lurgan. The family was 
evidently in very moderate circumstances, for James Logan, 
when quite young, was bound apprentice to a linen draper in 
Dublin. The indentures were broken, however, and he ac- 
companied his parents to Edinburgh, London and Bristol. In 
1698, when he was twenty-four years of age, he engaged in mer- 
cantile life, and was achieving considerable success when he 
came under the notice of William Penn. This distinguished 
m.an, thinking that he discerned in him the characteristics he 
desired, invited young Logan to accompany him to America as 
his secretary. Logan's friends and relatives were considerably 
opposed to the step, but he concluded to accept the offer, and 
taking passage on the "Canterbury,'' he arrived at Philadelphia 
late in the autumn of 1699. In connection with this voyage an 
anecdote is told which shows that although Logan had linked 
his fortunes with the Quakers, he had not yet, at least, become 
a thorough convert to their well known principle of non-resist- 
ance. It seems that the "Canterbury" was chased by an armed 
vessel, and when it appeared that a fight was imminent, the 
Quakers, unwilling even to fight in their own defence, went 
below. Not so James Logan, for he took his place at one of 
the guns to render what service he could in the expected encoun- 
ter. The ship, however, on getting nearer, proved to be a 
friendly vessel, and Logan immediately went below to convey 
the welcome news to his Quaker friends, whereupon William 
Penn began to rebuke him for his inconsistency in being willing 
to engage in fighting. Logan immediately responded, "I being 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOJVN 139 

thy servant, A\'illiam, why did thee not order me to come below? 
Thee was wilHng enough that I should stay and help fight the 
ship when thee thought there was danger." If Penn made any 
reply to this home-thrust there is no record of it. If James 
Logan had lived in the days of the Revolution he would un- 
doubtedly have beeen found arrayed on the side of the ''fighting 
Quakers." 

AYhen war broke out between England and France in 1744. 
there was great alarm throughout the colony. French priva- 
teers made their appearance ofif the Capes of the Delaware, and 
Philadelphia was believed to be in imminent peril. The Indians, 
too, on the western frontier, were restless and threatening in- 
their attitude. So critical was the situation that Benjamin 
Franklin wrote a powerful pamphlet entitled "Plain Truth," in 
which he argued that it was the plain duty of all the people to 
organize for the defence of their homes and families. In a few 
days, more than ten thousand men were under arms, and ])repara- 
tions for defence were carried on with great vigor. The Qua- 
kers, between the instincts of human nature and their non-re- 
sistant principles, were in a terrible dilemma. ]\Iany of them, 
including Logan, openly took sides with Franklin, declaring 
that self-defense was equally the dictate of nature and religion. 
Logan, too old to serve in the field, subscribed five hundred 
pounds for the purchase of cannon, besides affording Franklin 
the support of all his powerful influence. In a letter to Franklin 
he said, "A government without arms is an inconsistency." The 
great body of the Quakers, however, were more disposed, as I\Ir. 
Logan remarked, to get estates than they were to defend them. 
Some of the younger men resorted to an artifice in order to 
contribute money to the defence of the town without offending 
their elders. They agreed to raise money for a "fire-engine." and 
to entrust the fund to Benjamin Franklin, who proceeded to 
buy with it a great gun, "which," said he, with a twinkle in his 
eye, "is certainly a fire-engine." 

There is no better evidence of the high regard which Penn 
had for his 3'oung secretary than is contained in the letter which 
he sent to the latter in 1701. at the time when he found it 
necessary to return to England. At that time he placed Logan 
in charge of all his interests in this country. In this letter he 
said : 



I40 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

"I have left thee in an uncommon trust, with a singular dependence 
on thy justice and care, which I expect thou wilt faithfully employ in 
advancing my honest interests. For thy own service I allow thee what 
is just and reasonable, either by a commission or a salary. But my 
dependence is on thy care and honesty. Serve me faithfully, as thou 
expectest a blessing from God or my farm, and I shall support thee to 
the utmost as thy true friend." 

In the course of his life James Logan filled many important 
offices in Pennsylvania, being successively Secretary of the 
Province, Commissioner of Property, Member of the Provincial 
Council, President of the Council, and Chief Justice of Pennsyl- 
vania. He gave much attention to literature and science, especi- 
ally in his later years, corresponding with many of the learned 
men of the time. In the course of his studies he accumulated 
a fine library of scientific and classical books, many of them be- 
ing rare editions. These formed the nucleus of the Loganian 
Library which he established, and which is now merged in the 
Ridgway Branch of the Library of Philadelphia. 

Logan did not marry until several years after his arrival in 
America. He early formed an attachment for Ann Shippen, 
daughter of Edward Shippen. the first Mayor of Philadelphia, 
but she did not reciprocate his feelings and married Thomas 
Story. He eventually married Sarah Read, and their married 
life appears to have been one of singular happiness and peace. 

It seems probable that Stenton was at first used by Logan as 
a country residence, but it soon became his permanent abode. 
In deeds made prior to 1730, he describes himself as "James 
Logan of Philadelphia", but in 1732 he began to style himself 
"James Logan of Stenton." 

On approaching the mansion the attention is at once at- 
tracted to the singular looking stone steps, which are semi-circu- 
lar and fastened together with iron clamps. The heavy front 
doors open into a large brick-paved hall, at the far end of which 
rises a large open stairway. In the southeastern corner of the 
hall is an open fire-place. The massive wooden front door, with 
its large wrought-iron hinges, its heavy oak bar, and its immense 
lock and key, are objects of interest, and remind us that in the 
early days of the colony it was considered a matter of great im- 
portance to make dwellings secure from attack without. The 
wooden window seats and the wainscoting are in excellent con- 
dition. We notice, too, that the heavy wooden window shutters 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 143 

open inward, and, like the outer doors, are secured inside by 
heavy bars. There is a fire-place in every principal room, and 
some of these have ornamental borders of Dutch tiles illustrating 
scenes in Scripture history. Unfortunately, many of these tiles 
have long ago been destroyed or removed by vandal hands, but 
in the northwest room of the second story they are well pre- 
served. 

Many features of the old mansion indicate that the security 
of the household was a matter carefully regarded in its con- 
struction. About the center of the southern side of the house 
there is a box staircase, occupying but a very small space, which 
extends from the attic to the cellar. Although it could scarcely 
be called a secret staircase, yet one can easily pass all through 
the house without noticing it. This staircase afforded an easy 
means of communication from every floor of the house with an 
tmderground passage extending from the north side of the cellar 
toward the barn. This passageway is now obstructed, but it is 
believed that one branch of it extended to the barn, and another 
to the graveyard which lies a few rods east of the mansion. In 
the northeast room of the first floor is a trap door which also 
afifords a short cut to the same retreat. The old-fashioned 
closets are quite interesting. The one on the left of the fire- 
place in the northwest room on the first floor is concave at the 
top, and on the surface of this concave space is painted in yellow 
a picture of the rising sun. This was doubtless the china closet 
where the finest table ware of the mansion was kept. 

It is uncertain what, if any, significance is attached to the 
presence of this emblem of the Rising Sun at Stenton. That 
emblem forms part of the Arms of Ireland, and James Logan 
emigrated from Ireland. 

A large iron treasure chest standing in the hall is one of the 
most interesting relics in the collection. The family plate used 
to be stored in this. It is so heavy and massive that it would 
doubtless have defied the best efforts of burglars in those early 
times. 

In the rear of the main building is an annex in which were 
the offices and the servants' quarters. It is supposed that the 
bricks used in the construction of the building were made mainly 
upon the premises. In the pavement leading to the back annex, 
on the north side of the house, may El"ill be seen some bricks in 



144 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

which are visible the imprints of a litle child's feet and hands. 
It is believed that these imprints were made by one of the little 
Logans. 

In the later years of his life James Logan was greatly 
afflicted, suffering much because of a fall, as well as from other 
infirmities which were the natural accompaniments of advanced 
age. He now retired as much as possible from the active cares 
of life, and spent much of his time in meditation and literary 
Avork. In speaking of his death, Mrs. Deborah Logan says : — 
"He finished his useful and active life at his seat at Stenton, Oc- 
tober 31, 1751, having just entered into the 77tli year of his age. 
He was buried in the Friends' Burying Ground, at Fourth and 
Arch Streets." 

After the death of James Logan, his eldest son, William, 
who was born at Stenton, occupied the ancestral mansion. He 
married Hannah Emlen, and September 9, 1753, their son. Dr. 
George Logan, was born. Dr. George Logan married the gifted 
Deborah Norris, a grand-daughter of Isaac Xorris, Senior, the 
close friend of William Penn. This unusually intelligent and 
accomplished lady, with her distinguished husband, long pre- 
sided over the affairs of the Logan estate at Stenton. In their 
time, within the walls of the stately old mansion were often 
gathered in social intercourse many of the most distinguished 
men and women of the period. The literary labors of Mrs. De- 
borah Logan have been of great importance. In the attic at 
Stenton, she found, all dusty and neglected, a large amount of 
James Logan's correspondence. With loving and devoted care 
she collated and arranged this mass of material, adding such ex- 
planatory notes as were necessary. The Penn and Logan cor- 
respondence has been published in two volumes, under the 
auspices of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, and has been 
the means of throwing much light upon the condition of affairs 
in Pennsylvania during the earlier years of its history. 

When the Revolutionary War broke out. Dr. Logan was in 
Europe studying medicine, and the place was in charge of a col- 
ored woman named Dinah. She proved herself a "faithful 
steward", indeed, and on one occasion, by the exercise of her 
ready wit, she was fortunate enough to be the means of saving 
the mansion from destruction. After the battle of Germantown, 
the British, greatly angered at the unexpected resistance they 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 145 

had met, became very much incensed at those who adhered to 
the cause of the colonies, and, feehng now secure in the posses- 
sion of Philadelphia, they commenced to put into effect measures 
of retaliation. It was determined to destro}' a number of estates, 
and a force of soldiers was detailed for that service. Between 
Germantown and Philadelphia seventeen important houses were 
destroyed, one of the most noted of which was Fairhill Mansion. 
the home of the Norris family, which had been erected by Isaac 
Norris between 1717 and 1719. At the time of the Revolution it 
was the home of John Dickinson, who had married Mary Norris, 
the grand-daughter of Isaac Norris. Dickinson was particularly 
obnoxious to the British. It is worthy of note that a portion of 
his library escaped destruction, and became the nucleus of the 
library of Dickinson College, which institution was founded by 
John Dickinson. 

When the soldiers charged with the destruction of Stenton 
arrived, Dinah was alone in the house. They informed her of 
their errand, and told her that they had just burned the house 

of "that d d rebel Dickinson." She protested against the 

destruction, but in vain. They gave her permission, however, 
to get out her personal belongings, telling her to be quick about 
it, while they went to the barn to get some straw. While they 
were in the barn, a British patrol came up and inquired of Dinah 
if she had seen any straggling soldiers or deserters. "Oh, yes, 
you will find them in the barn," she said. Despite the ^-ehement 
protests of the supposed deserters, they were carried off by the 
patrol, and no further effort was made to destroy the mansion. 
Dinah spent the remainder of her days in the Logan family, and 
at her death she was buried under an old pine tree southeast of 
the house. 

Just previous to the battle of Germantown, Stenton was 
occupied by General Howe as his headquarters ; his guard was 
stationed on the northern part of the estate, the First Battalion 
being encamped about where Little Wakefield was afterwards 
built, and the Second Battalion about where the Reading Rail- 
road cuts through the hill above Fisher's Lane Station. 

August 23, 1777, the American army, while on its way to 
the Brandywine, encamped for a single night at Nicetown, and 
Washington for the time made his headquarters at Stenton. 

Dr. George Logan was a man of considerble prominence and 



146 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

devoted much of his Hfe to public affairs. From 1801 to 1807 he 
filled the position of U. S. Senator. He died in 1721, but his 
widow survived until 1839, living at Stenton with her son, Al- 
banus Charles I.ogan. The remains of both Dr. Logan and his 
wife lie in the family burying ground of the Logans, which is 
situated a short distance east of the mansion on a hillside over- 
looking the Wingohocking. The location is a beautiful one, 
and the excellent condition in which the place has been kept 
renders the spot quite attractive. The plot is surrounded by a 
substantial stone wall. 

We leave the old mansion with lingering regret. Strange 
thoughts crowd upon us as we tread these now deserted halls. 
What memories cluster round the spot ! Wdiat varied scenes 
these walls have looked upon ! Hither, in the early days, used to 
come the red men of the forest to visit their friend Logan. It is 
said that they even used to sleep in the large ball and upon the 
stairs. In Revolutionary days, occupied by an English General 
and thronged with his soldiers, it again became the abode of 
peace, learning and refinement. Within its walls have been 
gathered some of the most distinguished men and women of the 
nation. The place seems almost sacred. One by one these old 
mansions, reminders of our colonial days, are disappearing. The 
increase of population and the onward march of business enter- 
prises are rapidly crowding them out. In some way Stenton 
should be preserved to the City and the State. 

THE ROBERTS ESTATE 

A little south of Wayne Junction formerly stood two inter- 
esting old colonial structures, which, by reason of their quaint 
architecture and evident age, always used to attract considerable 
attention. One of them, situated at the northwest corner oi 
Wayne Avenue and Cayuga Street, was torn down in 1899. The 
other, on the lot immediately south of the railroad station, was 
demolished early in 1902, by the Reading Railroad Company, to 
whom the property now belongs. The land on which it stood 
has been leveled and transformed into a small park or lawn. The 
little stream or brook which formerly floAved in front of the 
property and was beautifully shaded by overhanging willows, is 
now made to flow through a sewer, and every trace of what was 
formerly called "Willow Glen" has disappeared. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOIVN 



147 



These two dwellings, generally known as the "Roberts i\Ian- 
sions", formerl}' belonged to Joseph Roberts, the cashier of 
Stephen Girard's bank. The date of their erection is not known, 
although the successive ownership of the land is comparatively 
easy to trace. Indeed, this fact is generally true. The record- 
ing of deeds renders definite the dates of ownership so far as 
land is concerned, but there are no similar data to guide one in 
determining the date of the erection of a building. 

This Roberts property was part of a tract of yy acres (usually 
spoken of in deeds as "80 acres more or less"), granted on the 




ROBERTS MANSION AT WAYNE JUNCTION (Torn down in 1902) 

27th of Second month, 1702 (Recorded Pat. Book A, Vol. 2, p. 2J4), 
by William Penn to Susannah Brandt, widow of Albertus Brandt, 
and the only daughter and heir of Jacob Tilner. In the docu- 
ment of naturalization, granted May 7, 1691, the name of the lat- 
ter is given as Jacob Telner, and it is generally so spelled in all 
documents since. 

Susannah Brandt afterward married David Williams, and 
in 1706 sold the land to Peter Kewrles (Kewrlin). From Peter 



148 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

Kewrlin it passed to George Gray; thence to Richard Hill; 
thence to Martin Jervis ; thence to Anna Eckerlin ; thence to John 
Neglee (Naglee) in 1727. On the map of 1751, the locality is 
marked "Naglee," so it is evident that the mansion must have 
been in existence at that time. 

In 1 75 1 John Naglee died, and his will, proved October 7th, 
175 1, provided for the division and sale of his estate in order to 
enable his executors to pay off his debts and legacies. Since 
that time there have been several subdivisions of the estate, the 
portion that came into the possession of Joseph Roberts having 
been deeded to him by the executors of Henry Homiller in 1824. 
The property finally passed entirely out of the hands of the 
Roberts heirs in 1887. 

The house nearest to the railroad was the one in which 
Joseph Roberts made his home. In his time, as well as during 
its earlier days, dating back at least to the time of the Naglees, 
the old mansion, with its roomy halls and lofty porches with 
their tall pillars, was considered a fine dwelling, but so much 
patching had been done to the old structure that in its last days 
it presented rather a pathetic appearance, when one contrasted 
its modern condition with its early magnificance. 

NAGLEE HOUSE 

Nos. 4518-20. This interesting old double house, which is 
situated just north of the railroad bridge at Wayne Junction, was 
the early home of the Naglee family. It presents quite a unique 
appearance, the lower portion being a substantial stone structure 
and the upper part a frame addition. Although the date of its 
erection is not definitely known, it must be very old. for James 
Logan lived here while he was building Stenton, which was com- 
pleted some time between 1727 and 1734. There can be but little 
doubt that it is one of the oldest buildings in Germantown. 
After the battle of Germantown it was robbed by stragglers from 
the British army. The property is now owned by Orlando 
Crease, and is occupied by John Kulp, gardener and florist. 

Some branches of the Naglee family spell the name Neglee 
and Negley. The long ascent, at the foot of which the dwelling 
is situated, is still known as Naglee's Hill. In early days it was 
considered rather a lonesome place, as a dense wood occupied both 
sides of the road and several robberies took place there. Before 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



149 













NAGLEE HOUSE (Prior to Alterations.) 

the street was graded and paved, it was difficult of ascent by 
loaded teams, and they avoided it as much as possible. 

STENTON AVENUE 

No. 4600. This avenue was the old township line. Opposite 
Berkley Street it diverges from Germantown Avenue towards 
the northeast. 

BERKLEY STREET 

West from No. 4532. This street was opened through what 
was known on the map of 1751 as Willow Glen. 

APSLEY STREET 

West from No. 4600. This was opened through the James 
Huber property, which was formerly called "Silver Spring 



I50 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

Farm." The famous spring that was on the north of the place 
supphed the people of the neighborhood with pure water for more 
than a century and a half. At times when the city water was 
too muddy for use, people came from far and near to this spring 
for their supply. When Rockland Street was opened west of 
Greene Street the spring was destroyed, as it stood directly in 
the line of the street. The small stream that formerly ran 
through the meadow is now diverted into a sewer that lies be- 
neath Greene Street. Willow Glen was on this stream, and 
extended past the Roberts mansion which was situated just 
south of the station at Wayne Junction, and was torn down by 
the Reading Railroad Company in 1902. 

Dr. George H. Cox states that in his boyhood what is now 
called the Huber property was known as the Homiller property, 
and that Silver Spring was so named because of the white sand 
in the bottom of the spring. Dr. Cox also states that "Loudoun" 
was then known as the John Skerret property. John Skerret was 
connected with the Logans by marriage. 

LURAY STREET 

East from No. 4637 to Stanton Avenue. This was formerly 
called Wyalusing Avenue. 

"LOUDOUN" 

No. 4650. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4356). 
This old mansion, built in colonial style, is situated at the very 
summit of Naglee's Hill. Set as it is in the midst of beautiful 
grounds and surrounded by tall trees, with its tall Grecian 
columns, it presents quite an imposing appearance. It was 
erected about the beginning of the nineteenth century by Thomas 
Arrnat for his only child, Thomas Wright Armat. Thomas 
Armat came to this country from Cumberland, England, and 
settled at first in Loudoun County, Virginia. He afterward re- 
moved to Philadelphia, where he engaged in business. At that 
time he resided at Fourth and Arch Streets. An epidemic of 
yellow fever having broken out in Philadelphia. Thomas Armat, 
fearing for himself and family, determined to remove to Ger- 
mantown. He purchased five acres of land at the summit of 
Naglee's Hill from the heirs of Solomon Bush, and here he 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMAXTOJVN 



151 



erected the mansion which he called "Loudoun", in honor of the 
Virginia county in which he first settled, and of which he evi- 
dently must have retained pleasant recollections. He had mar- 
ried into the Logan family soon after taking up his residence in 
Philadelphia. He appears to have become attached to German- 
town, as in 1807 he occupied the house at No. 5450 Germantown 
Avenue, and continued to reside there until his death in 1831. 
He was one of the founders of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and 
was always a liberal contributor to its support. Throughout 




"LOUDOUN " 



the community he was held in high esteem on account of his 
public spirit and philanthropy. 

The mansion is now the home of Albanus Charles Logan 
(2d) and his sister, Miss Maria Dickinson Logan, wdio are de- 
scended from the Logan, Xorris, Dickinson and Armat families. 
John Dickinson, ancestor of the family of that name, was Presi- 
dent of Delaware in 1780, and President of Pennsylvania from 
1782 to 1785. 

The Logan family is still in possession of many of the valued 
heir-looms of their ancestors. Among these mav be mentioned 
the portraits in oil of some of the most noted of the Logan, Dick- 
inson and Armat families. One of the most interestino: relics 



152 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

possessed by Mr. Logan is James Logan's gold watch. It is not 
unusually large in diameter, but is very thick and bulky. The 
key by which it is wound is shaped like a crank. Inside the case 
is a bell which strikes the hours. The case is punctured with 
small holes, which are supposed to be for the purpose of allowing 
the sound of the bell to escape easily. Another relic of great 
value is the commission given to Logan by William Penn, by 
virtue of which Logan became Penn's land commissioner. The 
large wax seal, about three-eighths of an inch in thickness, 
which is attached to it, was formerly enclosed in a box. It is 
now much broken, but in other respects the venerable document 
is in an excellent state of preservation, and Penn's signature is 
as distinct as when first made. Autograph letters from Benja- 
min Franklin to James Logan are among the interesting papers 
treasured by the family. It is impossible to gaze upon and 
handle these most interesting mementoes of the past without 
experiencing very peculiar emotions. 

The old mansion also contains many interesting mementoes 
of John Dickinson, the great-grandfather of the present owner 
of Loudoun. Among these may be mentioned the Order of 
Cincinnati, and the Order of St. Patrick, to both of which socie- 
ties he belonged. 

After the death of Thomas Wright Armat the house was 
rented for a time. One of the tenants was the distinguished 
Madame Greland, who established there a school for young ladies. 

It is said that after the battle of Germantown some of the 
dead were buried on the rear of the property. 

WYOMING AVENUE 
East from No. 4700. 

LOUDEN STREET 

West from No. 4800. This is an obvious misspelling. The 
name should be Loudoun Street. 

WAKEFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

In August, 1856, Miss ]\Iary Fisher, afterward INIrs. George 
W. Carpenter, was instrumental in establishing a Sunday School 
in one of Fisher's mills, called Wakefield Mill, in Fisher's Lane. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 153 

T. Charlton Henry was the first superintendent. Christian men 
and women of several denominations took part in the work and 
it greatly prospered. On the 20th of December, 1857, a new 
house for the school was opened on Fisher's Lane, with sixty 
children present. In this building, evangelistic meetings, unde- 
nominational in character, were occasionally held. William 
Adamson became the superintendent, November 6, 1864. On 
the 14th of October, 1872, an association of pastors and elders of 
the three Presbyterian churches in Germantown referred to its 
Executive Committee a resolution to start a new church in the 
neighborhood of Cayuga Street. January 13, 1873, William Ad- 
amson, chairman of that committee, reported that if they would 
consent to the building of a frame chapel on Main Street, near 
Fisher's Lane, instead of at Cayuga Street, he would give a lot 
of ground for that purpose. The offer was accepted, and by May, 
$5300 had been subscribed for the new church, which, on motion 
of Air. Adamson, was named the Wakefield Presbyterian Church. 
December 16, 1873, ^^^- Adamson reported the completion of the 
building, at a cost of $6000. The church was dedicated Decem- 
ber 28, 1873. There was no regular pastor until September 8, 
1874, when Rev. Nathaniel S. AIcFetridge became the pastor. 
He continued in that capacity for more than ten years. The 
sudden death of Mr. Adamson. June 16, 1879, was a great loss to 
the church, whose interests had been very dear to him. His 
widow and children faithfully carried out what they knew were 
his intentions with regard to it. 

It became evident, after a time, that a new structure was 
necessary, and the present building was erected. It was dedi- 
cated, free of debt. September 17, 1882. The present pastor is 
Rev. F. Cornwell Jennings. 

Attached to the original chapel was a small building in 
which the infant school met. It was originally the Kindergarten 
building of the Centennial Exhibition. It was the first building 
erected on the Centennial grounds, and was at first used for 
meetings of the various committees. At the close of the Exhibi- 
tion Mr. Adamson purchased the building at a cost of $600, which 
included the cost of moving it to Germantown. It was moved 
bodily on wheels, by a route that brought it up Broad Street. It 
had been the intention to move it across the Logan property, but 
the ground proved too soft to admit of so doing. It was there- 



154 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

fore brought out Fisher's Lane. When it reached the Reading 
railroad bridge, it was found that the building could not pass 
beneath, so the earth was dug away sufficiently to allow its pas- 
sage. The contractor complained that he lost money by the 
operation, so Mr. Adamson gave him another hundred dollars. 
When the new church building was completed, Mrs. Adamson 
moved the little house back of her residence, where it still does 
service as a carriage house. 

Incidentally, it may be mentioned here that the Wingohock- 
ing Station of the Reading Railroad was also one of the school 
buildings at the Centennial. 

It is interesting to know that the locality of Wakefield 
Church was one of the favorite camping grounds of the Indians 
when they visited Germantown. Watson speaks of this fact as 
follows : 

"A person, now 80 years of age, relates to me that he well remem- 
bers seeing colonies of Indians, of twenty or thirty persons, often coming 
through the town and sitting down in Logan's woods, others on the 
present open field, southeast of Grigg's place. (This is the place which 
now belongs to Mrs. Adamson.) They would then make their huts and 
stay a whole year at a time, and make and sell basket's, ladles, and tol- 
erably good fiddles. He has seen them shoot birds and young squirrels 
there, with their bows and arrows. Their huts were made of four up- 
right saplings with crotch limbs at top. The sides and tops were of 
cedar bushes and branches. In these they lived in the severest winters; 
their fire was on the ground and in the middle of the area. At that time 
.wild pigeons were very numerous, in flocks of a mile long; and it was 
very common to kill twenty or thirty of them at a shot. They then 
caught rabbits and squirrels in snares."' — (Watson's Annals, Vol. 2, 
p. 31.) 

Watson also mentions other places in Germantown as Indian 
camping places. 

"Mr. K. (Jacob Keyser) remembers very well, that when he was a 
lad, there was yet a little company of Delaware Indians (say 25 or ciO 
persons), then hutted and dwelling on the low grounds of Philip Kel- 
ley's manufactory ground. There was then a wood there through all the 
low ground, which now forms his meadow ground and mill race course. 
Some of the old Indians died and were buried in Concord burying ground, 
adjoining Mr.Duval's place. After they were dead, the younger Indians 
all moved off in a body, when Keyser was about 14 or 15 years of age. 
Indian Ben among them was celebrated as a great fiddler, and every- 
body was familiar with Indian Isaac." — (Annals, Vol. 2, p. 34.) 

"In the house of Reuben Haines, built by Dirck Johnson (Wyck), a 
chief and his twenty Indians have been sheltered and entertained. 
Andrew Johnson, when a boy, has seen nearly two thousand Indians at 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 155 

a time on the present John Johnson's place, in a liollow adjoining the 
wheelwriglit shop. They would remain there a week at a time, to make 
and sell baskets, ladles, fiddles, etc. He used to remain hours with them 
and see their feats of agility. They would go over fences without touch- 
ing them, in nearly a horizontal attitude, and yet alight on their nimble 
feet. They would also do much shooting at marks. One Edward Kei- 
mer imitated them so closely as to execute all their exploits. Beaver and 
beaver dams A. Johnson has often seen." — (Annals, Vol. 2, p. 35.) 

The great esteem which the red men had for James Logan 
and their frequent visits to Stenton are matters that are well 
known. 

Even after he endeavored to retire from public life by reason 
of advanced years, Logan was frequently pressed into public ser- 
\'ice again in cases relating to Lidian affairs, for the reason that 
he retained the confidence and affection of the Lidian tribes. 
The celebrated Indian chief, "Logan," whose eloquent speech has 
been preserved, was so named by his father, Shickalleniy, a 
Mingo chief, because of his regard for James Logan. It was not 
an unusual thing for quite large bodies of the Indians to call upon 
their friend Logan at Stenton, and remain in camp on his prem- 
ises sometimes for months. Upon the occasion of these visits 
it was not an uncommon occurrence for them to sleep in the 
large hall, and on the stairs, at Stenton. 

The following family tradition has been handed down, and 
is here given in the words of Mr. Horace J. Smith, who is a lineal 
descendant of James Logan : 

"Logan was a warm friend of the Indians, and they used to come 
and camp on his place. Once an Indian proposed that, as an evidence 
of friendship, according to Indian custom, they should exchange names. 
Logan, not wishing to put aside the proffered courtesy, turned it off by 
a tour d' adresse, saying that it was not possible for him to change his 
name, as it was written down in deeds, etc. 'But,' he said, 'do thou 
take my name and we will give thy name to this stream which flows 
at our feet, and will continue to flow as long as suns rise and moons 
wax and wane. 

"The conceit pleased the Indian; he took the name of 'Logan,' and 
the stream is known as 'Wingohocking' to this day." 

There may be some foundation for this pretty tradition, as 
the red men of the forest undoubtedly had great affection and 
profound reverence for their friend Logan, and yet it is a fact 
that the stream was called "Wingahockonck Creek" as early as 
1686, thirteen years before Logan's arrival in America, as will 
appear from the following extract from a deed dated 12th mo. 
1 2th, 1686: 



156 HISTORY OP OLD GERMAN TOWN 

"Griffith Jones, of Philadelphia, merchant, and Joan, his wife, of the 
one part, and Joseph Wilcocks, second son of Barnabas Wilcocks, of 
Philadelphia, Gent., and Ann Powell (daughter of the said Joan by a 
former husband), of the other part, 

WITNESSETH that the said Griffith Jones and Joan, his wife, for 
and in consideration of a marriage to be had between the said Joseph 
Wilcocks and Ann Powell, and in consideration of four hundred acres of 
land settled and assured by the said Barnabas Wilcocks unto and upon 
the said Joseph and Ann by virtue of a certain conveyance bearing even 
date herewith, and for other good causes and consideration. 

HAVE GRANTED unto said Joseph WilcocKs and Ann, his intended 
wife, all that tract of land situate in the Bristol Township, in the 
County of Philadelphia, now called by the name of "Annsberry Farms," 
Beginning at a corner marked white oak standing on Toaconincki Creek, 
thence West by North 382 Perches by the land of said Barnabas Wil- 
cocks to a corner marked white oak, thence by street of said Town 
South by West 15S Perches to a corner marked White oak standing in 
Wingahockonck2 Creek, thence down the several courses of said creek 
by Philadelphia Liberties to Toaconinck Creek, thence up sevei'al courses 
of said creek to first mentioned white oak, containing five hundred acres, 
being part of five thousand acres sold and conveyed by William Penn 
to said Griffith Jones, December 26, 1682.— (Deed Book E, Vol. 5, p. 505.) 

The names of several chiefs of the Lenni L.enape Indians are 
still retained in a number of creeks that empty into the Dela- 
ware, as for instance, the name of Nesliaming is retained in 
Neshaminy Creek; that of Rankokas in Rancocas Creek. 

In the vicinity of Philadelphia are several other streams 
Avhich still perpetuate the Indian names. 

Dr. D. B. Brinton thinks Wissahickon may have been taken 
from either of two Indian words, IVisainicJiaii, meaning ''cat-fish 
creek." or Wisancksickau, meaning "yellow-colored stream." 

The same atithority gives the meaning of Tulpchockcn, or in 
true Indian pronunciation, Titlpcjiaki, as "land of turtles." 

JJ'ingohockcn, he states, means "favorite planting land," and 
ma}' have been derived from Winakaking, meaning "sassafras 
land." It is also the native name of Eastern Pennsylvania. It 
may have been construed from Winn, "ripe and good to eat," and 
aki, "land:" or possibly from Wingi, "willingly," and oki\ "land." 

The authorities differ greatly in the spelling of Indian names, 
but they generally agree in ending them with on or en, rather 
than iiig. 

It has been stated that the name Wingohoching, on the station 
of the Reading Railroad, is a mistake of a railroad clerk, who made 



1 Tacony Creek. See Scharf and "V^^estcott, Vol. 1, p. 9. 

2 Wing'ohocking'. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 157 

the termination ing. AA'hen the attention of the officials was 
called to the matter it was deemed too late to change. 

In the Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Historical Society 
for June, 1847 (Vol. i. No. 11), is a paper presented to the So- 
ciety by Maurice C. Jones, of Bethlehem, Pa., entitled : "Memo- 
randum of the Names and Significations which the Lenni Lenape, 
otherwise called the Delawares, had givCn to Rivers, Streams, 
Places, etc., within the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey. 
Maryland and Virginia, together with the names of some Chief- 
tains and eminent men of their nation. Taken from the papers 
of the Rev. John Heckewelder, during his mission among the 
Indians of Pennsylvania." 

In this he gives the "Indian Names of Rivers. Streams, and 
other noted places in the Counties of Philadelphia, Delaware, 
Chester, Montgomery, and Buck." He also gives the following: 

"Wingohocking or Frankford Creek. 

"Wingekocking. The name implies "choice spot of land for 
cultivation ; a favorite spot for planting on ; fine land." 

Charles S. Hagner, in his "Early History of the Falls of 
Schuylkill," says : 

"Traditions say, and I have no doubt of the fact, that the Falls of 
the Schuylkill was the last place deserted by the Indians who inhabited 
this part of the country; it being the head of tide-water, and consequently 
such fine fishing grounds had, of course, peculiar attractions for them. 
That it must have been a favorite resort of theirs is proved by the fact 
that innumerable Indian relics have been found in the vicinity. I have 
seen and found, myself, many stone axes, arrow heads, and other instru- 
ments made of stone, the use of which could not be conjectured. Many 
of these were deposited in the old Philadelphia Museum. (Peale's.)" 

"In 1758, the Colonial Congress gave the Indians a reservation, and 
provided comfortable homes for them at Wyoming, and Tedyuscung, the 
chief of the Lenni Lenape tribe, took his people and went there to live." 
(Watson.) 

After the removal to AVyoming, Tedyuscung frequently 
visited Philadelphia, and always made it a point to stop over at 
the Piper House, on what is now Chestnut Hill Avenue. John 
Adams Piper was a friend of the Indians, and there was a strong 
tie of friendship between him and the chief. The Piper House is 
now a barn owned by Charles Newhall. Across the street from 
this barn is what at one time was a burial place of the Lenni Len- 
ape Indians. The mounds have all disappeared, however, and 
the ground is overgrown with a thick tangle of small trees and 
bushes. 



158 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



"After the conference of 1757, the Pennsylvania Assembly offered 
to enact a law which would settle the Wyoming lands upon Tedyuscur.g 
and his people forever." * * * * "^ force of fifty or sixty carpen- 
ters and masons built at Provincial expense, ten wooden houses at 
Wyoming. These houses w-ere on stone foundations, and were sixteen 
by twenty-four feet." — ("Conrad Weiser, or the Indian Colonial Policy," 
pp. 3G3-364.) 

No. 4746. (Old number, 4400). This Avas orig-inally the 
farm house of the Toland property. It now belongs to the Pot- 
ter estate. 

TOLAND HOUSE 

No. 4810. (Ward and Hotchkin, No. 4418). This was built in 
1734. George W. Toland, in early days a member of Congress, 




Jui^^p h)..,y 



once lived here. He was, at one time, engaged in the East India 
trade, and there are still in the house some pictures of Chinese 
origin that he then obtained. For many years two aged sisters, 
Elizabeth and Margaret Toland, resided here. Margaret died 
in 1S80, aged 89, and Elizabeth in 1881, at the age of 84. 

At the time of the Revolution George Miller lived in the 
house. He became a colonel in the army. His son Jacob was 
about sixteen years of age at the time of the battle of German- 
town, and in after years he used to relate many interesting inci- 
dents connected with that event. On the night of the arrival of 
the British army, more than a dozen of the officers took up their 
quarters in the house. They questioned young Miller closely 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 159 

in regard to his knoAvledge of localities. He, however, resented 
the term "rebel," which they applied to the Continental troops, 
and was chary in his replies to their inquiries. His mother was 
required to l^ake for the officers ; but in this matter she fared very 
well, for they only expected her to furnish them as many pounds 
of bread as she had received pounds of flour. 7'his left her quite 
a balance for the use of her family. 

At the close of the conflict, young Miller, with another lad, 
made his way across the back lots toward the Chew House, 
where the heaviest of the fighting had occurred, but a renewal 
of the fighting drove him back toward home. When he reached 
there he found the British about organizing a hospital at the 
house of his next door neighbor, Mechlin (now Wagner). He 
was ordered to assist the surgeons ; but, not liking the occupa- 
tion, he made his escape. 

The interior of the house is very interesting. Like all dwell- 
ings of the period, it was arranged with an eye to defense. The 
heavy shutters closed from within, and were secured by means 
of iron bars. The open stairway is quite unique, and in the 
parlor is a Franklin stove, very few of which are now in exist- 
ence. In the same room is a harpsichord of ancient but excellent 
workmanship. 

The wood work of the window sashes 
is very heavy, and many of the original 
window panes still remain. In one of the 
front windows there was formerly a pane 
on which was engraved, with a diamond, 
an equestrian statue of Frederick the 
Great. It had attached to it the signa- 
ture : 

"M. J. Ellinkhuysen fecit, 1783. Philadelphia." 

The pane is now in the possession of the Pennsylvania His- 
torical Society, to whom it was given by Mr. Toland. For a 
long time the drawing was supposed to be the work of a Hessian 
officer, but the date, 1783, shows that it was made several years 
subsequent to the time of the British occupation. Justice Blair 
Linn, of Bellefonte, Pa., in a letter to Townsend Ward, has 
thrown much light upon the matter. He states that Carl Elling- 
huysen. of Amsterdam, Holland, held the title to all the town 
lots in Lewisburg, Union County, Pa., except seventeen, and that 




i6o 



HISTORY OP OLD GERMAXTOWN 



he sent his son to this country to look after his interests. His 
son is said to have visited friends in Philadelphia before proceed- 
ing to Lev^^isburg. He died at the latter place, and was buried 
in the graveyard of the Presbyterian Church. The following in- 
scription is upon his tombstone : 

"Here lies the body of Mathias Joseph Ellinghuysen, 

Who departed this life July 17, 1792, 

Aged thirty-eight years and three months." 

The property now belongs to Mrs. ]\Iargaretta E. Potter, 
and Is occupied by Charles M. Ballantyne. 

ROCKLAND STREET 

West from No. 4812. This was opened through the Wagner 
property in 1901, destroying the old tannery. 

LORAIN HOUSE 

No. 481 1. (Old number, 4421). The beautiful mansion 
of Mrs. Adamson is situated upon the site of the house of John 




wk m '?'i 1 



i' i-'i W' * 

m lull - A" iLiljWiiiK lis- 'i 








THE MEHL AND LORAIN HOUSES 

Lorain, Sr. The Lorain house was erected some time after the 
Revolutionary war. At the time of the battle of Germantown 
there was an old house on the same site. Jacob Miller, a lad who 
then lived in the Toland house, on the opposite side of the street, 
and a companion, hid in the cellar during the fight, and while 



HISTORY OP OLD GERMANTOWN i6i 

there saw Sir A\^illiam Howe and several other British officers 
ride by on their way to the front. 

An entry in the account book of James Stokes shows that 
Lorain purchased the property from him. It reads as follows : 
"January i, 1803, John Lorain, Sr. I sold him my house and lot 
of ground at the lower end of Germantown. this day, for $4000." 
It is uncertain whether this was the original house that he sold, 
or the one represented in the accompanying cut. Here John 
Lorain and his eight daughters lived for many years. The 
youngest of his daughters was Octavia. Some of them married, 
and two of the single ones kept a school in the old Shoemaker 
house, at Shoemaker's Lane, after their father's death. In 1840 
the property belonged to John Grigg, wdio sold it to William 
Royal. William Adamson purchased the property in 1868, and 
altered the house by putting on it a ^lansard roof. Finally, in 
1874, he tore down the old dwelling and erected the present 
handsome and commodious structure. In preparing the founda- 
tions a great deal of very hard rock Avas encountered. 

MEHL HOUSE 

No. 4817. (\\"ard and Hotchkin, Xo. 4429; Shoemaker, No. 
4441). Shoemaker speaks of this as being the residence of ]\Iar- 
tin Mehl in 1809. Townsend Ward, who wrote in 1881, states 
that it was the residence of William Mehl. It belongs to the 
Henson estate, and was, for several years, the office of the 
Henson Hosiery Mills. It is now the office of the Joseph H. 
Alasland Mills which are situated in the rear. It is said that 
soldiers who fell in the battle were buried where the gateway 
now is. 

No. 4821. (Shoemaker, No. 4443-) This belonged to the 
estate of \\'illiam Y. Birch in 1809. In 185 1 it was the home of 
\Mlliam Henson, the father of Dr. William F. Henson. The 
grandfather of William Henson lived to the age of 98. He was 
a frequent visitor to the shop of "Freddie" Fleckenstein, and is 
represented in the picture of the interior of that shop which was 
painted by George B. Wood, Jr. 

OTTINGER HOUSE 

No. 4825. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 443I-) 
The following important letter in regard to this interesting old 



i62 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

house was originally published in the Germantown Telegraph, 
and afterwards republished by Rev. S. F. Hotchkin, in his work 
on "Ancient and Modern Germantown" (p. 98). 

"To the Editor of the Telegraph: 

A letter I received to-daj-, tells me you are publishing things re- 
lating to the old inhabitants and to the houses they built in German- 
town. The house No. 4431 Germantown Avenue was built by Christopher 
Ottinger, my father, as I have been told, soon after he came out of 
the Revolution, about 17S1. I heard him tell about the battle of Ger- 
mantown and the whiz of the bullets: he fought in that battle. For 
his services as a soldier, a land warrant, No. S0027, Avas issued to his 
widow, my mother; in it he is ranked as a non-commissioned otRcer. 
He volunteered before the age that would have subjected him to draft. 
My father afterwards was a master coachmaker. His shop was on the 
lot near where our old house is." 

DOUGLASS OTTINGER. 
Erie, Pa. 

An inspection of the masonry and structure will easily con- 
vince one that the rear portion of the dwelling is much older 
than the front part. Which of these portions was built by Mr. 
Ottinger it is difficult to decide. There are good reasons for 
thinking that the rear part was built a considerable time before 
the Revolution. 

Hotchkin also gives the following interesting information: 
"Captain Douglass Ottinger, a son of Christopher, was born 
in the old house in 1804. He made his first voyage in 1822, 
on the ship Thomas Jeft'erson. of Philadelphia, and was com- 
missioned a lieutenant in the United States Revenue Service in 
1832, by President Jackson. By order of the United States 
Government he expended the first appropriation for the Life 
Saving Service, and invented and named the 'life-car.' In 1849 
he constructed and furnished with a complete and efTective life- 
saving apparatus, eighteen stations on the New Jersey coast, 
from Little Egg Harbor to Sandy Hook." 

P'^or a long time one of Captain Ottinger's life-cars lav on 
the rear of the premises, but it was removed a few vears ago. 

A writer in the "Philadelphian" (June 20, looi) gives a fac- 
simile of an inscription made with a diamond on one of the 
north AvindoAvs. He infers that it was made by one of the 
Hessian soldiers, and interprets it to be : 
Governor Shootts 
Germ 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



163 



A close study of the inscrip- 
tion, however, can scarcely fail 
to convince one that it is 
really : 



Governer Shoolts 
Germ 




John Andrew Shulze was Governor of Pennsylvania from 
December, 1823, to December, 1829, and there can be but little 
doubt that the inscription was intended to refer to him. 

Mrs. Susan W. Coulter is the present occupant of the 
property. 

MECHLIN— WAGNER HOUSE 

No. 4840. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4434-) 
This house, as well as the stone out-buildings still standing, was 




■•AIECIILIN-WAGXEK" HUl'Sli: 



built in 1747, by John Zachary, who established a tan-yard here. 
A pent-house formerly extended around the dwelling, but many 
years ago this was removed, and the exterior changed so as to 
present a more modern appearance. 



1 64 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOIVN 

In 1764, the executors of John Zachary sold the property 
to Samuel Mechlin. The latter died in 181 7, at;d left it to his 
nephew, Jacob Mechlin. In 1824, Jacob Mechlin died and left 
the property to his mother for life, with a provision that at her 
death it should descend to his nephew, George Mechlin Wagner, 
who occupied the place for many years. The property still re- 
mains in the Wagner family. 

When the British occupied Germantown in 1777, Mechlin 
removed his family to the interior of the State. After the bat- 
tle of Germantown, the British took possession of the house 
and out-buildings for hospital purposes. It is said that blood 
stains may still be seen upon the floors, — ghastly reminders 
of that terrible battle day in October, 1777. Many of the dead 
were buried on the brow of the hill, just back of the house. 

Besides taking the house for a hospital, the British also 
took possession of all movable property about the premises, in- 
cluding a lot of untanned hides in the tan-yard. These were 
hauled into the city and sold. After the British evacuated Phil- 
adelphia, the hides were recovered. 

DEDIER HOUSE 

No. 4839. On this site formerly stood a hip-roofed house 
that was built in 1733 by John Dedier. 

On Matthias Zimmerman's map of 1746 it is marked, "Late 
John Lansing, now John Dedier's land." This map of Zimmer- 
man's was copied by Christian Lehman in 1766. The last owner 
of the old house was named Thulis. 

The brown-stone house erected on the site is owned and 
occupied by Dr. William F. Henson. 

WEST LOGAN STREET 
West from No. 4900, This street was opened in 1898. 

EAST LOGAN STREET 

East from No. 4900. That part of this street which lies 
in the Forty-second ward is called Lindley Street. 

At the present time the street is much better known as 
Fisher's Lane, a name that it has borne for many years. It was 
so called after Thomas Fisher, who, in 1771, married a daughter 



i66 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

of William Logan, and erected a small stone residence on the 
northern part of the Stenton estate which had fallen to them as 
their inheritance. This house is still standing on the south 
side of the street, a little west of where the Wingohocking 
crosses it. He afterwards built Wakefield, so named after the 
residence of one of his ancestors in Yorkshire, England. Joshua 
Fisher, the father of Thomas Fisher, was well-known in Phila- 
delphia, long before the Revolution, as the owner of a popular 
line of packet ships that sailed regularly between Philadelphia 
and London, 

The road was originally laid out to Busby's mill in 1747. 
This mill was built by Harper & Brinton in 1730, and was 
situated on the Tacony Creek at Rowlandville. It was Morris' 
mill from 1775 to 1825. AA^ard speaks of the road as being near 
Potts' corn mill, which was purchased of John Roberts by AA^il- 
liam Logan, May 6, 1755. The purchase consisted of fifteen 
acres of land and two water corn mills. The Potts corn mills 
were situated on the AA^ingohocking where it crosses the Old 
York Road. 

On Christian Lehman's copy of Zimmerman's map, this 
street is described as a public road, 24 feet 9 inches wide, "lead- 
ing to the late Christian Kantsing's mill,. now Chas Flav's mill." 
On John AA^ister's map of 1768, the name is spelled Christian 
Kintzing, and the road is called "Chas. Hay's mill road." The 
mill referred to was situated where the AA^ingohocking crosses 
Fisher's Lane, and was erected by Christian Kintzing in 1735. 
Thomas Fisher established a cotton mill here about 1834. 

WACHSMUTH— HENRY HOUSE 

No. 4908. (AA^ard, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4436.") 
AYard says this house was erected about 1760, but that consid- 
erable additions to it were made by a later owner, John Gott- 
fried AA'achsmuth, a merchant who died about 1826. He had 
married a widow named Dutihl, but left no descendants. In 
1828, the executors of AA'achsmuth sold the property to John 
Snowden Henry. He died about 1835, but his widow survived 
until 1881. Their son, Alexander Henry, served three terms as 
Mayor of Philadelphia, from 1858 to 1865. 

It is doubtful whether Philadelphia ever had a chief magis- 
trate who possessed in a greater degree the confidence of the 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOJVN 



167 



public than did Alexander Henry. Those were troublous times 
— the days of the Civil War, and the period of exciting events 
that led up to it. It was a time when there was the greatest 
need for a man thoroughly conservative and yet a man of extra- 
ordinary executive ability and personal courage. Such a man 




was Alexander Henry. In the early days of the Civil Wzlv, so 
tense was the state of feeling that the least public utterance 
of a treasonable nature was likely to provoke a fight, and even 
a riot of considerable dimensions. Under the leadership of a 
man of less ability, acts of violence would have become very 



1 68 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



numerous ; but all through the years of that trying period Mayor 
Henry guided the municipal affairs of the city with rare judg- 
ment and success. 

His power and influence over the people was shown in the 
following instance : A paper called the "Palmetto Flag" had been 
published for several years at a place on Chestnut Street, below 
Fourth. It was conducted by Southern men in the interests 
of the South, and had repeatedly given utterance to the most 




treasonable doctrines. Just after the Confederates had fired 
upon Fort Sumter, it published an article defending and com- 
mending that act. A few hours after the paper was issued, the 
ofifice was surrounded by a howling mob. Beginning with 
shouts and groans of derision in the street, the crowd soon 
forced its way up the stairs and began demolishing the office 
furniture. Presses, type, paper and pieces of office furniture 
soon went flying out of the windows, and the terribly fright- 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 169 

ened employees who had fled to the roof were in danger of 
being thrown to the street. Just when the excitement was at 
its greatest height, the form of Mayor Henry appeared upon the 
scene. The crowd gave way before his stately stride, and, 
mounting the steps of the building, he began to address the 
infuriated assemblage. The shouts and bowlings gradually died 
away into murmurs ; the murmurs faded into a respectful silence ; 
and after a short, but earnest address, the crowd gradually dis- 
persed. Few men could have swayed a mob in so remarkable a 
manner. 

After his retirement from the Mayoralty in 1866, he declined 
any further office, although his name was brought forward, once 
for the office of Governor, and once for that of United States 
Senator. He was unwilling, however, to allow his name to be 
used as a candidate for either office. His later years were de- 
voted to the practice of his profession — that of the law. He died 
December 5th, 1883, leaving a record for energy, honor, and 
usefulness rarely if ever surpassed. 

LOWER BURYING GROUND 

This old cemetery, in which lie the remains of many who 
were prominent in the affairs of Germantown in its earlier days, 
is situated at the northeast corner of Fisher's Lane (East Logan 
Street) and Germantown Avenue. It is upon "side land lot No. 
4, towards Bristol," which was drawn in the name of Leonard 
Arets in 1689. 

It has been generally believed that the land for this ground 
was given (presented) to the Borough or Corporation of Ger- 
mantown by Jan Streper, of Holland. Townsend Ward makes 
this statement in his papers on "Germantown Road and its Asso- 
ciations," as does also Christian Lehman, on a draft which he 
made at the time he surveyed it, February 4th, 1744-5. Leh- 
man's endorsement on the draft is as follows : 

"A PLAN of the LOWER GERMAN TOWN BURYING GROUND 
Containing one-half an Acre and one Pirch of Land Antiently given by 
Leonard Arets and before him by John Streper in Germany unto Ger- 
mantown for a Burying Ground, the Limits and Dimensions of which 
said Burying Ground were at the Request and in the presence of Sundry 
of the Lower German Town Inhabitants on the fourth Day of ffebruary. 
Anno Domini one Thousand Seven hundred and Forty-four-five, properly 



I70 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOJVN 

Surveyed, fixed, ascertained and Confirmed to be and thus remain the 
same forever. 

SURVEYED and Laid out at the Request 
and in the Presence aforesaid The 
Same Day and Year afs'd. 
by me 
CHRISTIAN LEHMAN. 

German Town Inhabitants Present as afs'd. 

John Reser, Sen'r Jacob Miller John Zachary 

Bernard Reser Jno. Kraft Riestein Godfryd Harlacher 

Peter Miller, Sen'r George Dannehouer Philip Marewine 

Theobald End Balltes Reser George Ries" 

John Dittier Adam Hinter 

Neither Lehman nor Watson mention any particular date 
as the time when this gift was made. Diligent search has thus 
far failed to reveal any documentary evidence of the gift of 
this land. If the tract was originally gkrn by Jan Streper, by 
what right did Leonard Arets afterwards give it? It seems pos- 
sible that Christian Lehman used the word giz'cn to denote an 
ordinary transfer for a consideration, rather than to indicate 
a free gift. The following brief synopsis of transactions re- 
corded in the Germantown Grnnd iind Lagcr-Buch indicate that 
the land was sold, or traded, to the Commonalty of Germantown 
by Paul WttlfT, as was also, at the same time, the land for the 
Upper Burying Ground : 

On the 12th of February, 1691-2, Leonard Arets conveyed this half acre 
to Paul Wulff for "one pound Holland Gold," providing, however, that 
it shall "be used in no other way than as a burying place." 

March 3d, 1692, Paul Wulff conveyed it to the Commonalty of Ger- 
mantown, at the same time that he also conveyed to them one half 
a-cre of his side lot at the upper end of the town, also to be used solely 
for a burying place. For these two half acres, the Commonalty granted 
him in return "one-fourth acre" * * * * "contiguous to William 
Streper's land." This fourth acre was a portion of a whole acre that 
had originally been reserved for "a Market, Burying Place and Public 
buildings." 

Paul WulfT had drawn "lot No. 5, towards the Schuylkill." 
which also entitled him to a side lot of the same number, just 
north of Washington Lane. Lot No. 5 was just south of Queen 
Lane, and fronted on the Main street in the very heart of the 
town. The reservation of one acre of this lot by the Borough 
for public purposes seriously lowered the value of the tract, 
which was otherwise so eligibly situated. It is not wonderful, 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOIVN 



171 



therefore, that Paul W'ulff was glad to make an exchange which 
would leave his lot No. 5 complete. 

Another document of the same date shows that Paul W'ullT 
paid the Commonalty "four pounds current silver money of 
Pennsilvania" for the three-quarters of an acre which remained 
of the original reservation of one acre. 

It is an interesting matter which should be mentioned in 
passing, that this same "four pounds, etc.," paid to the Com- 




ENTRANCE TO HOOD CEMETERY 



monalty by Paul AA'ulfif, was by that body paid to James De la 
Plaine for the tract now called "]\Iarket Square." 

Some additions to the Burying Ground have been made by 
purchase, so that at present the ground measures 180 feet on 
German town Avenue, by 150 feet in depth. The ground is now 
frequently called "Hood's Cemetery," in honor of \\'illiam Hood, 
a former resident of Germantown, who acquired a considerable 
fortune in Cuba, and died in Paris in 1850. In his will he made 
provision for the erection of the imposing front wall, a feature 
which adds greatly to the beauty of the ground. 



172 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

Mr. Hood's grave is just inside the entrance. It has the fol- 
lowing inscription upon it : 



WILLIAM HOOD 

BORN PHILADELPHIA 

SEPTEMBER 2ncl, 1786 

DIED PARIS 

January 18, 1850. 

ELIZA A. HOOD 
BORN AUGUST 18, 1783 
DIED AUGUST 15, 18G6 

MARY ANN ROBERTSON 
JAN. 30, 1803 NOV. 8, 188G 



Underneath the arch that forms the entrance is inscribed 



Wm. Johnston, Architect 

1849 
Strrthers, Marble Mason. 



This date would indicate that the wall was erected before 
the death of Mr. Hood. 

Set in the southern wall at the corner of Fisher's Lane, is 
a curious looking old stone bearing the emblems of mortality — 
a skull and cross-bones — and the phrase "Memendo Mory,"^ an 
odd spelling of the Latin motto, "Memento mori," — "remember 
death." The stone is evidently very old, but the writer has been 
unable to find any one who knows its history. 

One of the most interesting graves in the yard is situated 
just to the right of the main entrance. It is that of Rev. Chris- 
tian Frederick Post, who labored many years among the Indians 
as a missionary, and who had great influence with them. It was 
mainly through his efforts at the time of the French and Indian 
war, that the Indians of Pennsylvania abandoned the cause of 
the French and allied themselves with the English. 

General Agnew and Lieutenant-Colonel Bird, two distin- 
guished British officers who fell in the battle of Germantown, 
were originally buried here, and nearly half a century after- 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOIVN 175 

ward the historian \\''atson erected a stone over their graves. 
It is now certain, however, that soon after their interment, the 
bodies were secretly removed to the family burial ground of the 
DeBennevilles on Old York Road at the corner of Green Lane. 
This removal was made with the full knowledge of General 
Howe, and was in consequence of a fear that the graves would 
be desecrated, owing to the popular indignation against the 
British. 

The oldest tombstone in the yard is that of Joseph Coulston, 
which bears the date of February i, 1707-8. 

It is an unfortunate circumstance that the old record book 
of this cemetery has been lost. It used to be kept in the vault 
of the Germantown Bank, and Dr. W^illiam Ashmead, who wished 
to make use of it, obtained an order from George Fling, who was 
then secretary, to get it from the bank. Shortly afterward Dr. 
Ashmead was taken sick and died. When the trustees sent for 
the records, the book could not be found, and it has thus far 
not been recovered. According to the statement of Captain 
Waterhouse, the late President of the Board of Trustees, the 
cleanly and legible character of the records was remarkable, and 
showed that many of the secretaries were skillful wielders of 
the pen. 

On the 28th of December, 1868, AMlliam Ent, William R. 
Bockius, John Allen, Benjamin Allen, and Edward T. Royal, 
Trustees, gave a deed for the property to "The Hood Cemetery 
Company of Germantown." — (Deed Book, J. T. 0., 210-42^,.} 

The members of the Board of Trustees are elected by the 
lot holders at the annual meeting held in February of each 
year. A number of changes have recently been made in con- 
sequence of the death of members. Captain John R. Water- 
house, who served for several years as President of the Board, 
died March 14, 1903, and Christian Kinzel has since died. The 
present organization is as follows : 

President. Charles S. Bringhurst, 
Secretary, David J. McAleese, 
Treasurer, John J. Waterhouse, 

Henry W. Elvidge, 

Jacob C. Dedier, 

Robert Wallace. 
(One vacancy.) 



176 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

The Site and Relic Society of Germantown has recently 
placed in the wall on the south side of the entrance a tablet with 
the following inscription : 



"THE LOWER BURYING GROUND 

Was presented to the Borough of Germantown in 1G93. 
In 1SG8 it was conveyed to the Hood Cemetery Company. 
Here rest the remains of many of the early settlers 

and their descendants. 

Here were buried General Agnew and Colonel Bird 

British officers killed at the battle of Germantown. 

Also Christian Frederick Post, 

a noted Moravian Missionary to the Indians. 

The Site and Relic Society of Germantown, 1903." 



No. 4921. (Old number, 4459.) This property, now occu- 
pied by Robert Hurst, is on the site of the building which was 
once the shop of William Stephens, a watchmaker. 

Nos. 4925-7-g. (The old house must have occupied Nos. 
4461-65.) These three brick houses occupy the site of the 
Dedier house, which was built in 1748 and torn down in 1881. 
Shoemaker says that in 1809, William Dedier, a carpenter, lived 
in the house and that it belonged to Peter Dedier's estate. He 
speaks of it as the second house above the Lower Burying 
Ground. In the rear was a fine pear orchard, and a few of the 
younger trees still remain in the 3"ards of the new houses. 

Nos. 4935-37. A house built in 1747, and torn down in 1872, 
occupied the site upon which these two hottses are btiilt. and 
also the yard of No. 4931. This house, as well as the house 
above which stood where Mechlin (now Clapier) Street was cut 
through, belonged to William Wagner in 185 1. The old house 
had a pent roof and the old-fashioned half doors ; at the front 
entrance seats were placed on each side of the doorwa}^ 

On the drawings made b}^ John Richards, the number of 
the first-named house is given as 4447, and that of the latter 
as 4471. There is an apparent discrepancy here which may pos- 
sibly be a missprint. John Richards was a Swede who, for a 
long time, was the sexton of Calvary Episcopal Church, on Man- 
heim Street. He made many sketches of the old places in Ger- 
mantown, most of which now belong to Horace F. McCann. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



177 



He speaks of this old house as the ^lechHn House. John Cramer 
at present occupies the house which is located most nearly on 
the site of the Alechlin house. The houses on the south side 




JOHN RICHARDS 



of Clapier Street occupy a part of the ground that belonged to 
this property. 

EAST CLAPIER STREET 

East from No. 4937. This was originally called IMechlin 
Street. It was opened through the Wagner property, and was 
probably named Mechlin after William Wagner's mother, who 
was a Mechlin. The old house that stood on this site was built 
by George Danenhower about 1745. In 1753 he sold it to 



178 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

Thomas Roberts, and it was occupied by four generations of the 
Roberts family. It was afterward sold to William Wagner. 

No, 4939- (AA^ard, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4473-) 
The drug store on the northeast corner of Germantown Avenue 
and East Clapier Street belongs to the estate of Samuel Toplis. 
It is upon the site of an old house that was occupied by Jacob 
^Miller in 1809. He was the son of George Miller who lived in 
the Toland house at the time of the battle. In 185 1 the place be- 
longed to Matthias R. Aliller; in 1871 it belonged to John R. 
Miller. In the rear of the old dwelling was a bake-house where 
bread was baked for the British troops during the Revolution. 

Naaman K. Ployd has a watch that once belonged to Cap- 
tain John Miller, who was connected with the Fifth Pennsylvania 
Battalion, and who fell at Fort Washington, N. Y., November 16, 
1776, while serving under General Washington. The watch 
became the property of his son, Alatthias Miller (i) of lower Ger- 
mantown, and at his death was willed to Jacob, the father of 
Naaman K. Ployd. Mr. Ployd has kindly furnished the follow- 
ing information in regard to Captain John Miller and the Miller 
families of lower Germantown : "The breaking out of the Revo- 
lution interrupted the prosperity of the citizens of Germantown. 
Many of the inhabitants were engaged in agriculture and all 
business came to a standstill. IMoney and provisions became 
very scarce, and great demoralization existed. The settlement 
was made up largely of Mennonites, Friends and Dunkers, many 
of whom, having conscientious scruples against war, refused to 
lake up arms against the mother countr}^, in consequence of 
which they suffered many indignities at the hands of the Ameri- 
(an, as well as the British soldiery. Among the number who 
took up arms was Captain John Miller. He raised a full com- 
pany from Germantown and the surrounding country, and 
was commissioned in January, 1776. (See "Pcnna. in the JVar of 
tlic Rcz'olufion, 1775-178^." Vol. i, p. 145.) The records, although 
incomplete, give the names of a number from Germantown, who, 
like Captain Miller, sacrificed everything to fight for freedom. 
Among the number we find the names of Lieutenant Andrew 
Dover, H. Stoughton, G. Applen, G. Segar, J. Mansfield, G. Seifer, 
P. Williams, and Hugh Craig. The Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion 
to which the company was attached was commanded by Colonel 
Robert Mayan. (Ibid, p. 142.) 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOJVN 179 

"After much marching and many privations they again occu- 
pied their old ground at Fort Washmgton, X. Y. On Xovember 

16, 1776, the fort was attacked by a superior force of General 
Howe's army and a bloody struggle followed. Captain Miller 
and many of his men were among the slain. 

"Captain Miller left a family of six children, viz. : Susan, 
^lary, Elizabeth, Jacob, Rebecca, and ^latthias. Susan became 
the wife of David Ployd ; Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Pfeifer ; 
Jacob, the husband of Elizabeth Rose. Mary and Rebecca died 
in infancy, and Matthias died a bachelor. The last named was 
well known to the old-time residents of Germantown for his 
simplicity of manners, his kindness of heart, and consistent Chris- 
tian character. The writer well remembers 'Uncle Matty' taking 
his usual walks from lower Germantown to visit his invalid sister, 
Susan Miller Ployd. who lived with her daughter, Mrs. John 
Shriver, on old Haines Street. He w^ore a long brown coat, the 
spacious pockets of which were always well filled with 'Mushler's 
big ginger cakes,' and a stock of fruit selected for his sister Susan. 
After his departure, 'Granny Ployd' would treat her little grand- 
children to the Mushier collection. It greatly pleased 'Granny' 
to see the little folks 'get down to business." She died July 3, 
1846. ]Matthias, who was born October 15, 1776, died November 

17. 1854. 

"Susan :\Iiller Ployd was a communicant of the old Market 
Square Church. She was very much embittered against the 
English on account of the killing of her father in battle, never- 
theless, a numl)er of her descendants got, as she said, 'mixed up 
with the English families.' Her son, Jacob Ployd, when a boy, 
became interested in the early jMethodist Church, and became a 
member of that then persecuted denomination. This course was 
offensive to his mother, who threatened to give him a 'dose of 
the broom,' but the boy, like his old 'Grand-daddy' Miller, was 
firm in his convictions, and remained faithful to his 'meeting' for 
over fifty years, when he died in the cause he loved so well. His 
sister, Eliza Shriver, sustained him amid all the opposition to 
which he was subjected. 

"Jacob once became the owner of a small house which he 
took in trade, and rented it to a young mechanic with a wid- 
owed mother. They lived in the cottage for a long time, but 
Jacob got no rent. He was too good-hearted to turn the widow 



i8o 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



out. Finally the son secured a more convenient cottage and 
left the landlord the 'pig,' together with a message telling him 
to go to a warm region. Jacob, in disgust, disposed of the 
property for less than cost, saying that he was unfit to be a 
landlord. 

"Matthias R. Miller owned considerable property in the vicin- 
ity of what is now called ]\Iiller Street. He was anxious to dispose 







JACOB PLOYD. 



of it in building lots. Jacob B. Thomas, then an old-time auc- 
tioneer, wanted five dollars for crying the sale, but 'Uncle Miller' 
thought this entirely too much for one afternoon's work. Finally, 
Thomas agreed to sell the lots at so much per lot. When night 
came nearly all the lots had been sold and Thomas's old 'shot 
bag.' which he used for a money purse, contained just $50. The 
wily old auctioneer had the laugh on Uncle Matthias, who in 
turn was much pleased at getting rid of the lots. 

"The members of the various branches of the ]\Iiller family, 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOWN i8i 

all closely related, were at one time very numerous in lower Ger- 
mantown, and embraced also the Pfeifers, Bruners, Reeds, Steels, 
Ployds, Shrivers, Coulstons and others. As a rule, the Aliller 
descendants held to the Presbyterian faith. In the war of the 
Rebellion, numerous members of the family took part upon the 
Union side, in one capacity or another. Some served upon the 
Christian and Sanitary Commissions, some served in the hos- 
pitals, numerous others were at the front for years, suffering 
privations, and returning to their homes disabled by wounds or 
disease. Some yielded up their lives in the cause. J. Miller 
Wliartenby fell defending the flag; of the three Shriver boys, 
Reuben, of the 150th Pennsylvania, and William, of the 114th 
Pennsylvania, were brought home dead ; George W. received a 
dangerous wound. The Ployds were represented by Tennis, Ed- 
ward, Xaaman K. and William, the latter being dangerously 
wounded before Petersburg. And so, the spirit of patriotism 
that led the ancestral Alillers to aid in establishing the independ- 
ence of America, led their descendants to give their services for 
the maintenance of the liberty so dearly bought." 

No. 4949. A house that formerly stood on this site was occu- 
pied by W\ H. Stoever in 1840. It was situated a little back from 
the street line, and had a very attractive old-fashioned garden in 
front, the walks of which were handsomely bordered with box- 
bush. The house was two stories in height, and a beautiful vine- 
clad porch extended across the front. On the map of 1851. the 
property is marked as belonging to J. Daniels. The house was 
torn down about 1890. 

EAST SEYMOUR STREET 

East from No. 5000. It was at first called Alehl Street. 

WEST SEYMOUR STREET 

West from No. 5000. This street was opened by E. S. Rich- 
ards through the Royal property. The low ground, extending as 
far as Wayne Avenue, used to be known as "Frog Hollow." 

CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST 
N. E. Corner of Seymour Street and Germantown Avenue 

During the time when Rev. John Rodney, D. D., was rector 
of St. Luke's Church, there was a movement to provide church 



1 82 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWK 



services for the lower end of the town. This movement at last 
took shape in a resolution of the vestry of that church, and a 
mission was established under the pastoral care of Rev. William 
Nicholas Diehl. The first services of the mission were held in 
the Odd Fellows' Hall on \A'ister Street, and week day services 
were held in the public school building- in Fishers Hollow. 
Finally a lot was obtained, and the present edifice was erected 
at a cost of $10,000. It was opened for service January 2, 1859. 




PHILOMATHEAN HALL, I. O. O. F. WISTER STREET 

In 1866, a chapel and Sunday School building was erected upon 
the property, at a cost of $3300, but on account of its faulty 
construction it was torn down in 1873. On the 25th of June, 
1875, ]\Ir. Diehl dropped dead at the nursery of :\Iiller and Hayes, 
Mount Air}-. Rev. William Ely, now bishop of Georgia, suc- 
ceeded to the pastorate, but he remained only a short time. He 
was followed by Rev. C. K. Nelson. The present rector is Rev. 
G. W. Lincoln. 



No. 5007. This old building, noAv a laundry, was long known 
as "Alick Royal's Carriage Factory." In 1871 it was occupied 
by C. Chambers as a coach factory. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 



183 



No. 5010. (W^ard and Hotchkin, X"o. 4506.) George Royal 
built this house in 1747 for his son Edward. The latter bought 
the low ground on the west side of the avenue just north of the 
Wachsmuth property. The tract used to be called "Royal's 




EDWARD ROYAL HOUSE 



meadow." During the time when the British occupied the town, 
this meadow furnished pasturage for their cavalry horses. The 
house now belongs to George W. Paul, Jr. 

GARFIELD STREET 

East from No. 5009. 

No. 5011. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 451 1.) 
George Royal, a butcher, once lived in this house, as did his son 
Jacob. It is now owned and occupied by G. H. Marsden. 

Nos. 5015-19. (Ward and Hotchkin, No. 4515.) There 
once stood upon this site a house that belonged to the Duy fam- 
ily. It was purchased by George Royal and occupied by him 



1 84 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 




i^^''- 










mmi ii7jiics^«^^m,L 3:^^.r^ 



^^.:^ ^^i^^^^^ . <^ mmt:i^?^^ 



DUY'S HOUSE AND GEORGE ROYAL'S HOUSE 

about i860. A row of small brick houses now stands upon the 
spot. 

REGER STREET 

West from No. 5034. This street was formerly called Spring 
Alley. No account of Germantown would, be considered in any 
sense complete that omitted to mention Spring Alley, for in the 
"olden days" it was one of the best known localities in the town. 
It is to be regretted that our city fathers saw fit to change its time 
honored name to that of Reger Street, for the old name is inti- 
mately associated with many interesting memories in the minds 
of many old residents of Germantown. It received its original 
name from a famous spring at the southwest angle of the alley. 

The following extract from a recent letter received from Dr. 
George H. Cox, an aged gentleman who formerly resided in Ger- 
mantown, shows how afifectionately the old spot was regarded. 
He says : — 



"The old spring that gave the name to Spring Alley should not be 
forgotten. I went down the alley on purpose to see it in February, 
1893, but it then had a pump in it. That did not look right. That 
spring, in the early days of Germantown, supplied all the vicinity with 
water. It slaked the thirst of the British as well as the patriot soldier 
In the days of the Revolution. It never should have been desecrated 
with a pump. I am sincerely sorry for the change." 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 
"FLECKENSTEIN'S" 



185 



No. 5034. (Ward and Hotchkin, No. 4528.) Just north of 
Reger Street (Spring Alley) stands the old house, much altered 
in appearance, in which three generations of the Fleckensteins 
lived and died. They were skilled mechanics and were especially 
noted for their exceedingly moderate charges. Townsend Ward 
has given a most interesting account of their character and pecu- 
liarities. Their work included general repairing of almost every 
kind, and their invariable charge for a job was three cents, no 
matter how long a time they had been engaged upon it. 







37Kh^^\ ''•Aj?'''^"^"^- "^/iM^^^V- ml -«^ -^ _j— - 




■-xKklf^^^^'"- 



'FLECKENSTEIN'S ' 



It was the first Samuel Fleckenstein who made the iron parts 
for the type moulds of Christopher Saur. He was succeeded in 
business by his son Samuel. The latter, when a lad, was in the 
cellar of Lorain's house with Jacob Miller, at the time of the bat- 
tle of Germantown. He lived to an advanced age, and yet it is 
said that he was never in Philadelphia. During the anti-Catholic 
riots in 1844, he witnessed the burning of St. Michael's Church 
at Second and Jefferson Streets, from the top of Naglee's hill. 

The last of the line was Frederick, the son of the second 
Samuel Fleckenstein. Eccentric as he was in many respects, 
he had a large circle of friends, and probably no one of his time 
was better known than "Freddie" Fleckenstein. His shop was a 
popular resort. Here, especially on stormy days, the men of the 



1 86 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 



neighborhood were accustomed to gather and discuss the news 
of the day. The place could, with the greatest propriety, have 
been appropriately styled "the old curiosity shop," for all over it 
were hung or strewn bunches of keys, old locks of every size and 
description, bolts, nuts, buckles, odd fragments of harness, car- 
riages, plows, and farming gear of various kinds ; in fact, odds 




FREDERICK FLECKENSTEIN 



and ends of almost every imaginable description. "Freddie" was 
on good terms with the chickens and pigeons who frequently 
visited him. George B. Wood. Jr., the artist, has preserved its 
appearance in an excellent picture of the interior. 

When the Civil War broke out all the necessaries of life 
advanced greatly in price and "Freddie" was reluctantly com- 
pelled to raise his price for a job to five cents, in order to save 




z . 

-A o 

M be 

^ s- 

^ o 



^ S 



^2 

fa 



HISTORY OP OLD GBRMANTOWN 189 

himself from absolute beggary. This step is said to have weighed 
heavily upon his conscience. 

Although he could not boast of much of an education, 
"Freddie" was far from being an ignorant man. Loving nature 
as he did, he derived from her much knowledge not obtainable 
from books. He was particularly fond of botany and mineralogy, 
and in his frequent walks within a radius of twenty-five or thirty 
miles about Germantown, he learned where to find the rarest 
and most interesting specimens of plants and minerals. In these 
excursions he was almost always accompanied by his intimate 
friend, George Redles. For flowers "Freddie" possessed an 
almost child-like aft'ection. 

He was a bachelor and lived alone in the same building in 
which his shop was situated and in which his ancestors had lived 
and labored for so many years. About 1880, he contracted a 
severe cold that soon developed into pneumonia. Some of his 
neighbors, learning that he was ill, called to see him, and in a 
spirit of kindness cleaned up his sleeping room and gave him a 
bath. The sudden shock of the bath was too great for his en- 
feebled condition and additional congestion ensued which re- 
sulted in his death. He was about eighty years of age when he 
died. After his death an examination was made of his trunks, 
when it was found that he possessed a considerable supply of 
elegant clothing and underwear that had doubtless belonged to 
his father, as he was never known to wear it. 

No. 5031. In 1809 Jacob Duy owned the tavern still stand- 
ing on the southeast corner of Wister Street and Germantown 
Avenue. The place was afterward kept by Baltzer Naphley, 
and he was succeeded by William Stallman. The present owner 
and proprietor is Hamilton Boyer. It is now known as the 
Farmers' and ]\Iechanics' Hotel. 

Nos. 5040-46. This is the site of the old Star Hotel which 
was kept by William Jarvis in 1840. He was succeeded by Wil- 
liam Hargraves. A row of stores now occupies the site. 

It was in this hotel, about 1853. that the first cricket club in 
America was formed by a number of Englishmen who frequented 
the place. It was called the Star Club. William Jarvis, Daniel 
Jarvis, William Jarvis, Jr., William Dimmick, George Hargraves 
and John Provest were some of the original members. The 



190 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 



Handsberrys and Buckbys also belonged. It eventually had a 
large membership and became quite an influential organization. 

GENERAL WAYNE HOTEL 

No. 5058. This old building on the southwest corner of Ger- 
mantown Avenue and Manheim Street has long been one of the 
noted landmarks of Germantown. Its original appearance has 
been greatly changed, however, by reason of the addition of a 
third story which was built in 1866. The land upon which the 




GENERAL WAYNE HOTEL (original appearance) AND 
SOMMER'S CARRIAGE SHOP 

hotel was erected was originally drawn in the name of Jan Stre- 
per. 

Dr. George H. Cox, of Missouri, a son of William K. Cox, 
who kept the hotel from April, 1838 to 1859, makes the following 
interesting statement with regard to it : 

"My undei'standing about the place has always been that it was 
built for a tavern in 1803, it previously having been a blacksmith shop 
occupying the Main Street part only. As a tavern it was first kept by 
Samuel Butcher, then by John M. Bockius, the father of Edmund Bockius. 
John M. Bockius was Captain of the 'Germantown Blues," whose place 
of meeting was the tavern. On account of his peculiar manner of 
speech he was known as 'Captain Dis' and 'Captain Dat.' He used to 
say, 'Come around dis a way," and 'Do dat a way.' After Bockius. 
my father became the proprietor. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



191 



"If you will go on the yard porch and examine the window nearest 
the bar-room, and the shutter on the window nearest the bar-room, 
you will see a piece of tin, or perhaps sheet iron, that covers a hole 
about five or six inches in diameter. It used to be said, when I was a 
boy, that the hole was cut for the purpose of selling the stock of the 
Philadelphia and Germantown Railroad Co., about 1830-33. It was what 
is now known as 'boom stock,' and people fought to get to the window 
to invest their money. It afterward sold for fifty cents a share, with 
but few buyers at that. 

"At that time the old tavern was a very important place. The 
militia used to be mustered there. The 'Blues' had their armory in 
what was known as the 'Society room,' on the Manheim Street (then 
Bockius's Lane) side. Two beneficial societies met there, and the 
Columbia Fire Co. had its house and apparatus in the yard. No rent 
was charged for any of these things. Oh, how they used to spit tobacco 
juice upon the floor! Those old shoemakers used to chew a lot of the 
weed. 

"In my young days there was, on each side of the old sign, a picture 
of 'Mad Anthony' with drawn sword. It was said that the sign was 
painted by Stuart, the celebrated portrait painter. 

"The present proprietor is John B. Maxwell. His father, Andrew 
Maxwell, was the son-in-law of 
John Bonnell, who owned and 
lived on a small place of about 
four acres, at the corner of Greene 
and Manheim Streets. Maxwell 
had been a soldier in the United 
States army during the Florida 
Indian War. He also belonged to 
the 'Germantown Blues,' and in the 
Southwark riots of 1844 he played 
an important part in bringing them 
to a close. Mallory's Artillery, 
from up about the old J. P. Johnson 
Tavern, and the 'Blues' were called 
out and both organizations prompt- 
ly responded. The rioters took up 
one of the old iron cannon that 
guarded the corners along the 
wharf, and putting it on a dray, 
loaded it with powder and scrap- 
iron. This they fired, and John 
Guyer and Harry Troutman, of the 
'Blues,' were killed. The artillery- 
men, being new and not well drilled, 
ran away and left their gun. Max- 
well, being an old artilleryman, 
volunteered to handle the gun if 
Captain John D. Miles, of the 

'Blues,' would give a permit and furnish a file of men. The request was 
complied with and Maxwell kept the gun going all night, loading it with 
musket balls and touching it off with cigars, for Mallory's men in the 
stampede had carried away all the match rope. That ended the riot. 




CAPT. JOHN waterhousk;. 



192 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

"Maxwell was a friend to everybody in trouble or distress, and was 
loved by every one. He died of consumption when John B. was a very 
small boy, and was buried in the Hood Cemetery with the honors of 
war. His funeral was probably the largest ever seen in Germantown. 
Everybody walked in those days, and the funeral cortege reached from 
the house to the cemetery. 

"Captain John Waterhouse, of the 114th Penna. Volunteers, was a 
private in the 'Blues,' and during the riot was wounded in the back 
of the neck. Edmund Bockius, First Lieutenant, had a missile pass 
through his hand. To use the expression of one of his friends, 'that 
shot him into the Market Square Church,' where he remained a valued 
and consistent member until his death. He was a very good and kind 
friend. To me he was always 'Pappy Bockius.' " 

WISTER STREET 

East from No, 5100. This used to be called Dtiy's Lane, 
and before that Danenhower's Lane, as it led to Danenhower's 
Mill on the Wingohocking Creek between Duy's Lane and Shoe- 
maker's Lane. This mill was afterward owned by James Arm- 
strong, and it was then called Armstrong's Mill. It was de- 
stroyed by fire December 14. 1866. Peberdy's extensive mills 
are now situated upon the site. On a map made by Nicholas 
Scull, Surveyor General, in April, 1751, this street is designated, 
"Road leading to the Township Line, commonly called Reazer's 
Road." 

MANHEIM STREET 

West from No. 5100. This street was opened by the Ship- 
pens about 1740. On some old deeds it is called Shippen's Lane. 
At various times it has also received the names of Pickus's Lane, 
Betton's Lane, and Cox's Lane. Two very i^ausible theories 
have been advanced in regard to the way it received the name of 
Manheim Street. According to one account, Jacques Roset gave 
the street its name in honor of the ladies of Manheim. Germany. 
Others have believed that it took its name from the town of 
Manheim which was laid out by Henry Fraley on the site of 
what is now the grounds of the Manheim Cricket Club. It is 
certain, however, that it was called Manheim Street as early as 
1780, for in a deed from John Dedier to Jacob Sommer, dated 
January 24, 1780, it is mentioned as "a street 60 feet wide, left 
open forever, which is called Manheim Street." (Deed Book D, 
No. 5, p. 529.) Now as Roset did not come to this country until 
1792, and did not come to Germantown to live until 1821 ; and as 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



193 



Henry Fraley did not lay out the town of Manheim until 1796. 
it is evident that neither of the theories mentioned is tenable. 

Manheim Street should not be passed without reference to 
one of the early inhabitants of Germantown who is affectionately 
remembered and who was intimately associated with this locality. 
Jacques Marie Roset came from France to America in 1792, at 
the ag-e of twenty-seven. He became a merchant in Philadel- 
phia, and lived for a time at the northeast corner of Seventh and 
Arch Streets. He then made his home at the Falls of Schuyl- 




Star Hotel. 

Gen. Wayne Hotel. 

Manheim Streeet. 



4. Schaeffer & Chatburn's Paint Shop. 

5. Jacob Sommer's House. 



kill for three years. In 1821 he removed to the Toland house, 
No. 4810 Germantown Avenue, where he resided for the next 
twelve years. He then took up his residence in a house on the 
north side of Manheim Street, about one block west of German- 
town Avenue. Here he passed the remainder of his life, dying' 
in 185 1 at the ag-e of eighty-six. Some have supposed that he 
lived in the old house on the southwest corner of Portico Street 
(Spring Alley) and Manheim Street, but this does not agree with 
the account given by Townsend Ward, who states that he lived 



194 HISTORY OP OLD GERMANTOWN 

on the north side of Manheim Street. Dr. Cox confirms the 
statement of Ward in regard to location. He says: "I knew 
the old man Roset very well. I don't think he ever lived on the 
south side of Manheim Street. The house in which he lived on 
the north side was two houses made into one. There were two 
front doors. The street was considerably lower at the time than 
it is now. There was a large platform with three or four steps 
at -each end, but no rail at the front doors. The old man used 
to sit on the platform with his legs hanging down to the side- 
walk, and he was generally surrounded by little girls. His house 
was nearly opposite the Jungkurth blacksmith shop. I used to 
stand off and feel very jealous of him, and many a time wished 
that I was a girl. I remember a party he once gave to the little 
girls, and there was a large clothes basket full of cakes and other 
good things carried in, but not a boy was allowed inside, nor did 
any of the good things get to the boys' insides. 

Dr. Cox also gives the following interesting information 
about this locality : 

"On Manheim Street, between Spring Alley and the Jungkurth 
blacksmith shop, there are two three-story houses. In the third story 
of these buildings was the Lodge room of No. 10, I. O. O. F., previous 
to their building on Wister Street, then Duy's Lane. In the front room 
of the building nearest to the blacksmith shop was kept the primary 
department of the first public school of which I have any knowledge. 
It was taught by Miss Margaret Provest, who afterward married Charles 
Bockius and went to Marysville, California. She was, I think, a sister 
to Paul Provest. The grammar department of the school, presided over 
by Charles Wilson, with Sam Culp as assistant, was in the first building 
on the right in Spring Alley, about seventy-five yards from Manheim 
Street. The school was afterwards moved to a building, formerly a 
wheelwright shop, belonging to Henry Heckroth. It was next to the 
Jungkurth blacksmith shop. This building was moved on rollers for the 
purpose, (I witnessed it) to its present site (or what was its site nine 
years ago) a little west of the old spring in Spring Alley. The school 
in the building was known as the Roset School until the Rittenhouse 
School was built. The lower floor was used for the primary depart- 
ment, and the upper floor for the grammar pupils. Miss Provest was 
down stairs and Wilson and Culp occupied the upper floor. When the 
Rittenhouse School was opened this school went out of existence. 
Charles Wilson became principal of the Rittenhouse School." 

THE TOWN OF MANHEIM 

The following account of the laying out of the town of ]\Ian- 
heim has been kindly furnished by Mr. J. H. Bockius : 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 195 

"In 1796 Henry Fraley and his son John purchased of Joseph Ship- 
pen a tract of land on what is now Manheim Street, in the neighbor- 
hood of the 'Manheim Criclvet Grounds.' They immediately divided it 
into about fifty building lots, and styled it the village of Manheim. (See 
Deed Book D, 63, p. 304.) A cross street which was called Federal Street 
ran at right angles to Manheim Street, and was evidently intended for 
the main street. A street parallel with Manheim was called Columbia, 
and another was called Tammany. Quite unexpectedly, the lots were 
purchased by persons of means from Philadelphia, and instead of a 
populous village, the lots were consolidated into a few large country 
seats. Thus Henry Fraley became one of the first, if not the very first, 
of the proprietors of Philadelphia suburban towns. 

"Henry Fraley was born in Switzerland, March 27, 1744, and died 
in Germantown, August 20, 1821. His parents were Heinrich and Eliza- 
beth Froli. Henry learned the trade of a house carpenter, and suc- 
ceeded his father in the business which he carried on for many years. 
Some of the houses built by him are still standing. Among these may 
be named the large stone house to the right of the entrance of the 
Manheim Club, and the Women's Club House. The Boys' Club House 
is his old barn remodeled." 

GERMAN SQUARE. 

When Manheim Street was opened, all the ground on both 
sides of the street was owned by Joseph Shippen, Sr. It included 
town lots Nos. I, 2, and 3 "towards the Schuylkill." and the 
greater part of the corresponding side land, as well as side lots 
Nos. 4B and 5S "towards the Schuylkill." His land was de- 
scribed as the "Germantown plantation which Joseph Shippen, 
Sr., late of Germantown, gentleman, deceased, by deed, February 
27, 1740, granted to his three sons, Edward, Joseph, and William 
Shippen." Later on they made a partition of the estate. (Sec 
Deed Book I, No. p, p. jji.) 

On a portion of the tract they laid out a square, 300 feet on 
a side, with Manheim Street running through the center. Its 
eastern side was 217 feet west of Greene Street. Around the 
sides of this square, lots were laid out, six on each of the east and 
west sides, and three on each of the others. The lots on the east 
and west sides were 40 feet in width, and those on the north and 
south sides were 100 feet. Little or no attempt was made to 
build upon the square, and it appears to have been an almost com- 
plete failure. 

A comprehensive plan of the German Square may be found 

in Deed Book I, No. p, p. §jj. 



196 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOIVN 

"WHITE COTTAGE" 

This property, which has long been known as the "Betton 
property," is situated at No. 153 Manheim Street. The mansion 
with its broad porches shaded by fine old maples has much the 
appearance of a countr}' gentleman's residence. 

In 1 81 2 the place was owned by Colonel Thomas Forrest, of 
Pomona. His daughter married Dr. Samuel Betton and upon 
their marriage came here to live. Colonel Forrest died in INIarch. 
1825, and his estate was administered by Dr. Samuel Betton. Dr. 




WHITE COTTAGE (BETTON HOUSE.) 

Betton had come to this country from Jamaica, and settled in 
Germantown. After he became the owner of this property 
he added extensively to the grounds. He also built the oc- 
tagon shaped room on the east side of the house. It was used 
as a dining room. It is said that in this room solid silver forks 
were used for the first time in Germantown. 

At one time Dr. Betton had in his employ a Swiss gardener 
named Jacob Janney. (On his passport which is in Swiss, and 
his indenture which is in English, the name is given as Janney; 
on his daughter's marriage certificate, which is in German, the 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AX TOWN 197 

name is Yenner.) He had been a silk stocking weaver in Ged- 
derkind, Switzerland. While on his way to America the vessel 
in which he sailed was wrecked and he lost all his property, 
including a silk ribbon machine which he was bringing with 
him. On account of this misfortune he was compelled to com- 
plete his voyage as a "redemptioner." He arrived in Philadel- 
phia in December, 1805, and he and his wife then bound them- 
selves to William Bonnell for a term of four years, the con- 
sideration being one hundred and seventy-three dollars, that 
being the cost of their passage from Amsterdam. Upon the 
expiration of his term of service with ^Ir. Bonnell he came to 
Germantown, where Dr. Betton gave him employment. His 
fate was quite pathetic. One of the grain fields belonging to 
the estate caught fire just as the grain was ready to be har- 
vested, and Janney was so greatly alarmed that he was fright- 
ened to death. 

Dr. Samuel Betton died in 1850, and left his library and sur- 
gical instruments to his son. Dr. Thomas Forrest Betton, all the 
rest of his estate being left to his wife, Mary Forrest Betton. 

Dr. Thomas F. Betton married Elizabeth, daughter of Alba- 
nus C. Logan, of Stenton. They built the large house, recently 
torn down, that stood east of "AAHiite Cottage." 

Mary Forrest Betton died in 1856, and letters of administra- 
tion were granted to her son. Dr. Thomas Forrest Betton. 

Dr. Thomas Forrest Betton died in 1875. leaving his library 
to be sold to the Philadelphia College of Ph3'sicians, and the rest 
of his property to his wife for life. The property has been di- 
vided and much of it sold. The homestead is now owned and 
occupied by Samuel Betton, a son of Dr- Thomas F. Betton. 

TAGGART'S FIELD 

A tract opposite the Betton property, on the south side of 
Manheim Street, was for many years known as "Taggart's Field." 
Watson refers to it by this name in describing Jacob Miller's 
recollection of Revolutionary events. It did not, however, have 
this name at the time of the Revolution, for it then belonged to 
the Shippens. It was purchased by Joseph Taggart (spelled 
Tagert in the deed) about 181 2. Watson makes the following 
statement in regard to it : 

"On Taggart's ground were a great many of the British encamped 



198 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

in huts made up from the fences and overlaid with sods. On the same 
ground, he (Jacob Miller) afterwards saw Count Pulaski's cavalry, of 
four hundred men, in their whitish uniform, where they made a grand 
display of military evolutions, in exercising in a mock battle. They 
were formed mostly from the prisoners of Burgoyne's army, Germans, 
and others. Their exercises made a deep impression on his youthful 
fears; for when he beheld their frequent onsets with drawn swords, he 
felt persuaded that they must turn it all to eainest. One of them got 
killed in the onset. 

"At one time, it was said that the British were intending to take 
into their service all the half grown boys they could find in the place; 
to avoid which, he and others got off to a public house near Flourtown. 
He supposes that it was a false report." 

October i, 1795, Joseph Shippen granted to Edward Bonsell 
four lots of grotmd which are described as lots Nos. 55, 56, and 57, 
fronting on German Square, and another lot situated along- 
side of these. There was a house on lot No. 56 at that time. This 
house, No. 5031 Knox Street, is still standing. These lots col- 
lectively, or some portion of them, formed the property after- 
ward generally known as "Taggart's Field." 

The succeeding transfers were as follows : 

April 15, 1797, Edward Bonsell to Daniel King, 
May 19, 1798, Daniel King to Edward Lynch. 
June 15, 1804, Edward Lynch to William Mitchell, 
April I, 1804, William IMitchell to Joseph Taggart. 

(Deed Book G. W. C, 73-140.) 
At this time Joseph Taggart was making extensive pur- 
chases of ground in this vicinity, buying some of Samuel Mechlin. 
(Deed Book J. C. 20-476, D. p-302.) 

Shoemaker says that Joseph Taggart was President of the 
Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank. He paid taxes on the property 
in 1812, but did not live here. 

In November, 1850, the property was sold by Taggart's ex- 
ecutors to Edward Carpenter. (Deed Book G. IV. C, 73-140.) 

Knox Street has been cut through the property and rows of 
modern houses erected upon it. 

No. 5100. (Old number, 4552.) Probably no greater 
changes have been made anywhere in Germantown than at the 
west corner of Manheim Street and Germantown Avenue. The 
present brick building is upon the site of several frame and stone 
buildings. The ground upon which it is built is a part of the 
Shippen tract. After Joseph Shippen, Sr., granted land in this 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 199 

locality to his three sons (See German Square), they made a 
division of the tract, and this lot fell to the share of Edward 
Shippen, who conveyed it to Henry Ernst, January 21, 1743-4. 
Henry Ernst died intestate, whereupon the lot descended to his 
children, subject to the widows dower. (Sec Deed Book D, No. 5, 
p. j2p.) His widow, Susanna, married John Dieder (Dedier). 
The deed from Edward Shippen to Henry Ernst contains the 
following interesting provision, which will give some idea as to 
how valuable a well of good water was considered in those days : 
"Reserving to him, the said Edward Shippen, his heirs and as- 
signs forever, the privilege of the well on the premises, he or 
they paying half the expense of windlass, buckets and ropes and 
other necessary and reasonable charges either for digging it 
deeper or cleaning the same ; subject to the payment of the yearly 
rent or sum of three and three-quarters Spanish pistoles in gold, 
each pistole weighing four pennyweight and six grains, Troy 
weight or value thereof in current money of Pennsylvania unto 
the said Edward Shippen, his heirs and assigns on the twenty- 
fifth day of March yearly thereafter as in and by the said recited 
indenture relating, being thereunto had more fully appear." 

On the 24th of January, 1780, the surviving heirs of Henry 
Ernst conveyed the property to Jacob Sommer. The deed was 
signed by John Dedier and Susanna, his wife (Susanna Dedier 
being the former wife and widow of Henry Ernst, cordwainer, 
deceased); Henry Ernst, ropemaker ; John Ernst, of Reading, a 
hatter; Jacob Ernst, tailor; Balthason Ernst, hosier; Peter 
Edenborn, hosier, and Elizabeth, his wife ; and Susanna Ernst, 
spinster. (Deed Book D, No. 5, />. j2p.) 

Jacob Sommer carried on the business of coachmaking in a 
frame shop that stood on this corner. He married Anna Mary 
Dauber January 9, 1772. Eleven children were born to them. 
The young daughters had a great reputation for their beauty. 
It is even said that Sarah was exhibited as a beauty in Peale's 
Museum, Philadelphia. When the Revolutionary war broke out 
Jacob Sommer joined a company raised in Germantown. (Peuna. 
Archives, 2d series, ]^oL /j, pp. 738-/S9.) Henry Fraley belonged 
to the same company. The wives of these men were great 
friends. Mrs. Sommer had four small children at that time. The 
oldest was but five, and the youngest but a year old and very 
delicate. When the battle of Germantown commenced these two 



200 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

women with the children hid in a bake oven. As a result of 
hardship and exposure, the youngest child, Ann Martha, died a 
few days afterward, and the two women were obliged to carry it 
at night to the burying ground of the German Reformed Church 
at INIarket Square and bury it themselves. 

Jacob Sommer died in 1817, leaving no will. Two large lots 
on Manheim Street, that had belonged to him, were sold by his 
executors to Samuel Betton. The property on the corner of 
Manheim Street was made over to the mother by the children. She 
opened there a general store that was very popular in the neigh- 
borhood. A parrot which she kept in the store was very watch- 
ful over her interests. Woe to the luckless fellow who ventured 
to pilfer any of the old lady's stock, for Polly would instantly 
raise the loud cry, "Stop thief! Stop thief!" 

Mary Sommer died in 1827 and left the property to her son 
Jacob. In order to satisfy a mortgage it was sold by the Sheriff 
to Christopher Mason, September 30, 1829. In the deed given it 
is described as a lot 61 feet by 217 feet, situated on Germantown 
Road, at the corner of IManheim Street. "There are on the prem- 
ises a one and a half story stone house and a two-story brick 
house fronting on the Germantown Road, one two-story frame 
building used as a coachmaker shop and a two-story frame house, 
26 feet fronting on Manheim Street, with one stone and one 
frame kitchen, and a stable fronting on ]\Ianheim Street, partly 
stone and partly frame ; also ground rent of three and three-quar- 
ter Spanish Pistoles, but has not been claimed for more than 70 
years." 

"N. B. There are erected on said lot one stone house one 
and a half stories high, 26^ feet front by 20 feet deep, used as a 
store for many years, a stone kitchen joining the same 15 feet by 
12 feet, one-story high, one two-story stone house with brick 
front of 17 feet front on the said Turnpike by 33 feet deep and 
with the gable ends weather-boarded joining the last mentioned 
house." (Deed Book A. M._, No. 52, p. 666.) 

The old coachmaker's shop referred to was occupied in 1832 
by George Redles, a wood turner. He was an intimate friend of 
Frederick Fleckenstein, and the two were frequent companions 
on botanical excursions in the vicinity of Germantown. At a 
later period the building was occupied as a paint shop by Schaef- 
fer and Chatburn. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



20 1 



The little store once kept by Mrs. Sommer was afterward 
kept by a Mrs. Shingle. 

Christopher Mason died in 1855, leaving the property to 
Elizabeth Jacoby. She died intestate, and the place descended 
to her son, Christopher H. Jacoby, who sold the property to Jo- 
seph A. Sanborn, of Redfield, Maine, for $11,500. (Deed Book J. 
A. H. No. 140. p. 2iy.) 

Soon after this time the old building was torn down and the 
present one erected, the corner being first occupied as a drug 
store by Sanborn and Butler, and afterwards by Mahlon Kratz. 
The latter has recently been succeeded by Samuel D. Crawford. 




ONCE THE RESIDENCE OF COMMODORE BARRON 



COMMODORE BARRON HOUSE 

No. 5106. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4558.) 
This belonged to John Foos, a shoemaker, in 1809. In 1842 it 
was the residence of Commodore James Barron, who was com- 
mandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard from August 11, 1824, 



202 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

to May 6, 1825, and again from ^lay 20, 1831, to July 3, 1837. 

In the events that led up to the war of 1812, it will be re- 
membered that Commodore Barron was the unfortunate officer 
in command of the frigate Chesapeake when she was attacked 
by the British man-of-war Leopard off the capes of Virginia. 
His vessel had been ordered to sea in no fit condition to meet 
an enemy, and he was therefore powerless to prevent the search- 
ing of his vessel for deserters, which took place after receiving 
several broadsides from the British vessel. Three of the crew 
of the Chesapeake were killed and eighteen wounded. Because 
of the event Barron fell into deep disgrace in the estimation of 
the public, and a court martial suspended him for five years. 
He always blamed Commodore Stephen Decatur for the result 
of his trial, and finally a duel between the two resulted, in which 
Decatur lost his life. On account of his brilliant naval record, 
Decatur was almost idolized by the American people, and the 
unfortunate termination of the duel added to Barron's unpopu- 
larity ; he never regained the confidence of the public. 

The property was afterward successively occupied by Capt. 
Henry Adams, a naval officer from Pennsylvania, and by Col. 
John Watmough, who was wounded in the attack on Fort Erie 
during the war of 1812. It is now owned and occupied by Mrs. 
S. H. Warner. 

THONES KUNDERS HOUSE. 

No. 5109. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4537-) 
On this site stood the house of Thones Kunders, one of the 
original settlers of Germantown. 

The various spellings of this name are quite puzzling. On 
Zimmerman's map of 1746 it appears as Tunis Conrad. The 
name appears to have undergone several transformations before 
appearing in its present form of Dennis Conrad. Henry C, 
Conrad, Secretary of the Delaware Historical Society, who has 
written the genealogical record of one branch of the family, 
speaks of him as Thones Kunders, a wool dyer from the banks 
of the Rhine. Thones Kunders died in 1729. It is worthy of 
note that he signed his will Dennis Kunders. His oldest son 
signed his will Cunrad Cunrads. His second son signed his 
will M. Mathias Cunrade, and the sixth son signed his will 
Henry Cunrad. Sir Samuel Cunard, the founder of the cele- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AX TOWN 



20' 



brated Cunard line of ocean steamers, who died in London in 
1865, was also a descendant of Thones Kunders. 

In speaking of the Friends. Watson says (Annals, Vol. II, 
p. 2^}, "Their meetings were held at Dennis Conrad's house 
(then spelt Tennis Kundert), as early as 1683. Part of the wall 
of that ancient house may still be seen on the northwest end of 
the two houses rebuilt and occupied by Lesher as an inn." At 
one time the place was known as Lesher's Tavern.^ The tavern 
occupied the present building together with one below which 
has since been torn down. Just below the tavern was an open 
lot which was very popular with those fond of rustic sports. 
Tradition says that a favorite sport was bull-baiting, and that 




LESHER'S TAVERN 



this cruel amusement was the means of attracting large gather- 
ings. In the rear of the portion that was torn down stood an 
old building in which Hiram Lodge of Free Masons met. Pub- 
lic sentiment was so much prejudiced against Masonry that 
Lodge meetings were always held with the utmost secrecy. 
Access to the Lodge room was had by means of a ladder, and 
the Lodge was always "closely tiled" by drawing up the ladder. 
The accounts of the Treasurer of the Lodge show that the 
Widow Lesher received for the rent of the room, $60 per an- 



5i WiUiam Lesher died Oct. 19, 1793. The inn was then conducted by 
his widow and was known as "Widow Lesher's Tavern." 



204 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



This old l)uil(lins: in the rear 



num, dating from June i, 1800. 
Avas torn down about 1888. 

The house now standing was occupied by Christopher Kin- 
zel as a barber shop for over forty years. 

It is probably not generally known that at one time the 
matter of making Germantown the National Capital was seri- 




BUILDING IN REAR OF LESHBR'S TAVERN, WHERE HIRAM 
LODGE, F. & A. M., MET 

ously talked about. The following extract from the diary of 
Jacob Hiltzheimer (page 139), gives an account of a meeting 
held here for the purpose of considering the subject, at the time 
when the place was Lesher's Tavern : 

"December 4, 1787. 

"Went with Captain N. Falkner, in my ctiair, to William Lesher's in 
Germantown. Then I went out and brought to the house Leonard Stone- 
burner, — a number of the inhabitants and landholders of Philadelphia 
County, to consult concerning the offering to cede a part of the county 
to the Federal Government for their residence and exclusive juris- 
diction. 

"Mr. Mathew Clarkson was called to the chair, and Mr. William 
Hall made secretary, and after some debate, it was agreed that the 
question be put. The chairman told the gentlemen present that those 
who are in favor of making Congress the offer should show their assent 
by holding up their hands, — which was done by all in the room. A num- 
ber of blank petitions were then handed to gentlemen residing in differ- 
ent parts of the county, to get them signed. A number of gentlemen 
signed at the table." 



It was in the house of Thones Kunders that the first public 
protest against slavery made in America, was signed in 1688. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 205 

Through the efiforts of I\Ir. William Kite, late librarian of the 
Germantown Friends' Library, an excellent fac-simile copy of 
this celebrated protest has been made. The document appears 
to be in the handwriting of Pastorius, and it was signed by 
gerrit hendricks, Francis daniell Pastorius, 

Derick op de graeff, Abraham op den graeff. 

A further account of this interesting paper will be given in 
the third part of this volume. 

Nos. 51 12-14. (Ward and Hotchkin, No. 4562; Shoemaker, 
Nos. 4562-4.) In 1809 this belonged to Daniel King's estate. 
It was afterward occupied by three generations of Greens, who 
were hatters. The last of these was Charles U. Green, who 
occupied the house and store. No. 51 14 (4564). He died in 1899. 

"HEFT'S " 

No. 5122. (Ward, Shoemaker and Hotchkin, No. 4612.) 
This beautiful property embraces the site of the once famous 
"Roebuck Tavern." It is supposed that the old building was 
erected by Joseph, a son of Edward Shippen. about 1716. It is 
not certain, however, that he ever lived in it. There were also 
other houses on the property. In 1740 Joseph Shippen deeded 
the property to his sons, Edward, Joseph and William. In that 
deed the house is styled the "Roebuck Tavern." It was still 
known by that name in 1788, as it is thus called in a deed from 
Joseph Shippen (2) to his brother William. In 1819 George 
Heft purchased the property and changed the name to the "But- 
tonwood Tavern." One of the stately l)uttonwoods from which 
it took its name is still standing. In December, 1854, Caspar 
Heft, who had purchased the place, tore down the old building 
and erected the present beautiful mansion. 

Nos. 5131-33. This is on "lot No. 3 towards Bristol." The 
brief of title from William Penn down to the present owners 
is very interesting, as the property is part of the tract of 275 
acres which the Commissioners of Property sold by patent to 
John Strepers (Jan Streper), of Kalte Kirchen, in Germany. 
(Patent Book A, p. 245.) 

John Strepers sold to John Lensen 50 acres out of the tract. 
John Lenson, on "Gth day of 1st month, 1G85," sold to Denis Kon- 
ders, 114 acres out of the 50 acres. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 207 

March 27, 1730, Cunrad Cunrads and Ann his wife; Barbara, widow 
of Mathias Cunrads; John Cunrads and Elizabeth his wife; Henry Con- 
rads and Catharine, his wife; Ann Strepers, widow; Samuel Powell and 
Agnes his wife; Griffith Jones and Elizabeth his wife; heirs of Dennis 
Konders, sold the property (that is, the li^i acres upon which this house 
was built) to John Frederick Fende. 

The house must have been built during Fende's ownership, 
between 1730 and 1758, as a messuage, is mentioned in the 
deed by his executors to "John Eckstein, rope maker, of Ger- 
man town," in 1758. 

DEED. — Jan. 7, 1758. John Eckstein to Ferdinand Fende. 

DEED. — October 9, 1759. Ferdinand Fende (cooper) to Godfrey 
Bockius (storekeeper). (Deed Book H, 20-344.) 

In this deed the land is described as "beginning at a corner stone 
on the northeasterly side of Main Street being also a corner of land for- 
merly Dennis Cunrad's, late Jacob Weiss, by the said street N. W. 4i/^ 
perches to corner stone of John Lenson, now Wm. Biddis"s land, by the 
same N. E. 43 1^ perches to corner stone and further by said Biddis late 
Lensen's land. S. E. 41/2 perches to corner stone in the line formerly 
of Dennis Cunrad, late Jacob Weiss' land, thence by same S. W. 43i/4 
perches to beginning, containing 11,4 acres." 

Godfried Bockius conducted a general store. He died in 
1780, and in his will, dated December 15, 1771, he left to his wife 
Philypine, the rent for her natural life, specifying that "while 
she has the benefit of the hotise, she is to keep the same in good 
repair." 

To his eldest son, Francis, he gave the choice of any of his 
stocking frames or looms. The executors were also instructed 
to bind his children out in order that they might learn trades. 

The will also provided that if the wife should marry she 
should be entitled to receive one-third of the property, and the 
remainder was to l^e divided among their five children. Francis, 
Godfried, Mary, John and Jacob. (Probated March 6, 1780. 
Will Book R, p. 26^/.) 

On the gtli of April. 1802, the widow being dead, and John, 
one of the sons, having died itnmarried, Francis, Godfried and 
Mary conveyed their shares to their brother, Jacob Bockius, 
tanner, of Richmond, Virginia. (Deed Book E. F. A\h 8. p. 228.) 

In the tax list of 1809 the property is recorded as belonging 
to the estate of Jacob Bockius. 

DEED.— May 28, 1828. Samuel M. Bockius, of Richmond, Virginia, 
<who had inherited the property from his father Jacob), conveyed to 



2o8 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOWN 



F. William Bockius the messuage and lot containing 1% acres. (Deed 
Book G. W. R., No. 15, p. 713.) 

Francis William Bockius kept a general store here in 1841. 

January 15. 1898, Morris R. Bockius, attorney, conveyed to 
John Henry Hillyer a portion of the premises (the share of 
Samuel F. Bockius.) 

Abraham R. Bockius died May 24, 1892, and left his portion 
to his son, Morris R. Bockius. 

October 7, 1902, John Henry Hillyer deeded back to ^lorris 
R. Bockius the portion he had acquired January 15, 1898. The 
latter gentleman still owns the propert3^ 

Nos. 5137-39. (Old number, 4559.) This property is on 
"lot No. 3 towards Bristol," and is part of a tract of 11^ 




HENRY SQUIRE'S DRUG STORE AND BOCKIUS HOUSE 

acres granted by Jan Streper to John Lensen in Crefeldt, in 
1683. It extended from what is now No. 5133 to what is now 
Ashmead Street. On the 19th of August, 1731. John Lensen 
deeded it to William Biddis and his wife Catharine, who was 
a daughter of John Lensen. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTGWN 209 

In his will William Bicldis provided that after the death of 
his wife, the property should be divided among his three sons, 
Henry, Samuel and John. This house is upon John's portion of 
his father's estate. 

It has passed through the hands of many owners since that 
time, finally becoming the property of John H. Hillyer in 1898, 
who sold it to William H. Galbraith, the present owner, March 
27, 1902. 

There is much uncertainty as to when the house was built, 
but probably about 1798, by Godfrey Dorfenille, who then 
owned it. A\'hen he bought the property in 1797, there was no 
building mentioned in the deed. It is possible, however, that the 
old barn which used to stand on the rear of the place was then in 
existence. It is likely that it was the barn of AA^illiam Biddis, 
and when his property was divided it came in that portion 
awarded to John Biddis. Those familiar with the property be- 
lieve that the barn is considerably older than the house. 

Between this old barn and the house there was a very sin- 
gular looking building that tradition says was once used as 
barracks by American soldiers. Its walls were thick enough 
for a fortress, and there were no windows in its north wall, but 
instead there were narrow slits with an opening about two 
inches wide tapering to six inches wide on the inside, not unlike 
the openings often found in the cells of a prison. Underneath 
this building there was a m3-'sterious subterranean passage way 
which extended from the house to the barn. The story about 
the building having been used as a barracks can not be traced 
to any reliable source. It is possible that it may have been 
used as a recruiting station during the war of 1812. There was 
a school in the building between the time when Godfrey Dorfen- 
ille bought the property in 1797, and 1810. In the latter year 
it was sold by the sheriff to Anthony Chardon. This building 
was so odd in its structure that it is difficult to surmise what 
it was built for. During the later years of its existence it was 
used as a kind of tenement house. At one time as many as five 
families lived in it. It, together with the barn, was torn down 
in 1898, and a row of small dwelling houses was erected on the 
site. 

On the tax list of 1809, Godfrey Dorfenille's name is given 
as Godfrey Dorfinelle, shoemaker. Shoemaker remarks, "This 



2IO 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 




•BARRACKS" ON COLLOM STREET 

was no doubt Martin Godfrey Dorfenille, who in 1797 purchased 
what is now known as the "Hacker house," No. 170 Wister 
street." 

Anthony Chardon, who bought the property at sheriff's 
sale, sold it to George J. Howell, Jan. 26, 181 1, and in the recital 
in the deed it says, "messuage, lately in the tenure of Mrs. 
Rivardi." It is supposed that this lady was the proprietor of 
the school that has been mentioned. 

It is believed that a drug store was established in the house 
on the corner about 1828, by Edward Ashmead. An old pre- 
scription that was lately brought to the present establishment 
for renewal, contained the following: 

"Use as directed by 

Dr. William Jones. 
From Edward Ashmead, 

Chemist and Druggist, 
Feb. 13, 1829. Germantown, Pa." 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOIVN 



211 



In 1839 Edward Ashmead sold his business to Henry J- 
Squire, who removed to Germantown from Twenty-fourth and 
Callowhill Streets, Philadelphia. At that time the drug store 
was in the southern part of the building that was torn down 
by John H. Hillyer when he erected the present structure. Henry 
Squire had a son, William H. Squire, who studied medicine and 
opened an office in the house, on the side facing Collom Street, 
and in what would be the rear of the present store. 

That part of the building next to Collom Street was pur- 
chased by the present owner in 1902. The southern part of 
the building was used as a grocery for several years after the 
drug store established by Edward Ashmead was removed to 
the corner. It was kept by Briggs and Lancaster in 1876. That 
portion of the house has been torn away and a large store 
erected upon the site. The store also covers the site of what 
was the side yard. 




(THE "CORVY.") WILLIAM WYNNE WISTER'S PLACE 
(Once the residence of Stuart, the celebrated Painter) 

No. 5140. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4622.) 
The old building still standing on the front of this property was 



212 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AX TOWN 



occupied in 1809 by Samuel Bringhurst, a manufacturer of iron 
work for carriages. 

Joseph Bockius, who was born October 15, 1776, had his 
first school in this building. He became a teacher of the old 
Mount Airy School in 1800, and was selected by Reuben 
Haines, in 1829, to organize in Germantown the Lancasterian 
system of teaching. The site of his school house is now occu- 
pied by Lister's auction store, on Haines Street, which was then 
called Methodist Lane. In 1837 ^^^ took charge of the school 




KUINS OF STUART'S STUDIO 



on Queen Lane, at the Falls of Schuylkill. He removed to 
Illinois in 1844. 

At the time of the great epidemic of yellow fever in 1793, 
the house back from the street was occupied by Gilbert Stuart, 
the celebrated portrait painter. According to a statement made 
by his daughter, he removed from Philadelphia to Germantown, 
in order to be more free from the press of visitors. It was while 
living here that Stuart painted the celebrated portrait of Wash- 
ington, who was then residing in the Morris house (No. 5442). 
This picture is now in the possession of the Boston Athenaeum. 
The painter's studio was in the second story of a barn situated 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOJVN 213 

in the rear of the house. He used the first story as a place in 
which to keep and mix his paints. Previous to the partial 
destruction of the building by an incendiary fire in March, 1854, 
the marks of the artist's brushes could be plainly seen upon 
the walls. Although in ruins, the old building long remained 
an object of interest, and, covered as it was with vines, it pre- 
sented quite a picturesque appearance. It was torn down early 
in 1900. 

Even distinguished men have their foibles, and the Avorld- 
renowned painter must have been the possessor of rather an 
irascible temper, as it is said that he once kicked a roast of 
l)eef all the way across the street because it did not suit his 
taste. 

In 1849 the property was purchased by William AA'vnne 
W^ister, who made it his home until his death in 1899. The 
place has long been familiarly known as "The Corvy," or Crow's 
Nest. It still remains in the Wister family. 

COLLOM STREET 

East from No. 5141. This was opened in September, 1859, 
through the AVintergarst (Wintergest. Wintergast. W^intergerst ) 
farm. It has also been known as Jefferson Street and Brick- 
yard Street. It once formed a part of William Biddis's land. 
At his death his property was divided among his three children, 
John, Samuel and Henry. John received as his share what is 
now the Galbraith property ; Henry died intestate, leaving a 
daughter Margaret, who, at the death of her uncle Samuel, also 
received his share. Her portion then included all the property 
from Collom to Ashmead Street, inclusi^'e. 

When the street was opened, the little farm house that was 
built by William Biddis was torn down. It was a low building, 
shaded by weeping willow trees. Its last occupant was William 
Wintergarst. At one time his house was used by the Lower 
End Fire Co. as a place of deposit for their hose and buckets. 
They afterward moved to Duy's Lane and took the name of 
the Columbia Fire Co. 

The front of the AVintergarst farm was sold to Philip R. 
Freas, who erected his house and printing office upon it. 

Nos. 5151-53. (Old number, 4615.) This building, now 
a grocery, was the residence of ]\Iajor Philip R. Freas 



214 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOIVN 

who published the Germantown Telegraph for so many years, 
having begun its publication in 1830. It was at first called the 
"Village Telegraph." 

No. 5155. The building that formerly stood on this site 
was torn down in 1905. This was for many years the office of 
the Germantown Telegraph. Under the management of Major 
Freas this paper became a great power in the community. 
Always independent and fearless in expression, and ever up- 
holding the cause of progress in public affairs, its utterances 
had much to do with moulding public sentiment. 

Major Freas retired from the management of the paper 
August I, 1883, and was succeeded by Henry W. Raymond, of 
New York, who had purchased it. Major Freas died in April, 
1886. He was born at Marble Hall, Montgomery County, 
February 22, 1809. 

ASHMEAD STREET 

East from No. 5200. This street was so named because it 
was opened through the Ashmead property. 

No. 5200. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4626,) 
This belonged to the estate of John Harland in 1809. In 1876 
it was owned by Edwin Harland. It was originally occupied 
only as a summer residence. 

Nos. 5203-5. This property, as well as the land upon which 
St. Stephen's M. E. Church stands, is situated upon "lot No. 4 
towards Bristol," drawn in the name of Lenart Arets. It was 
afterward purchased by John Eckstein, and in his will dated 
June I, 1763, after making numerous bequests he disposed of his 
realty as follows : 

"Lot situated in Germantown which at present in the year 1763 
adjoyns on the westerly side to land of Michael Baker and on the 
easterly side to late William Biddis land, of this I give on that side of 
said Michael Baker's land one-third part (excepting only during wife's 
life time the small house wherein we at present live to her for life) 
unto my daughter, Elizabeth, one-third of sd lot in the middle upon 
which my large house and barn is to my daughter Barbara, one-third 
thereof as adjoyns sd William Biddis land to Christian, my son." 

The executors were his son Christian, daughter Barbara 
and son-in-law, Conrad Weber. (Probated Nov. 7, 1763. Ji'ill 
Book N, 63.) 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 215 

August 26th. 1777. Christian and Elizabeth Eckstein con- 
veyed their shares to their sister Barbara. 

October 17, 1778, Barbara Eckstein conveyed the property 
to Noe Townsend, of Germantown. 

March 24th, 1792, Noe Townsend, cabinet maker, conveyed 
it to Peter Deal, butcher. 

April loth, 1813, Peter Deal conveyed it to John Ashmead. 

The Conrad Weber referred to, established the first mill 
in Harper's Hollow. The small house mentioned in John Eck- 
stein's will stood on the front of the property where St. Stephen's 
Church now stands. Deal's slaughter house stood nearly on the 
present site of the church. Originally the building was but a sin- 
gle dwelling. In 1847 it was owned by Dr. Theodore Ashmead, 
a son of John Ashmead. At that time there lived with him 
Edward Ashmead, who will be remembered as establishing 
the drug business at the corner of Collom Street. A sister of 
this gentleman married Philip R. Freas, who owned the property 
below. Dr. Thomas Betton afterward occupied the property, 
and still later it was temporarily the residence of Dr. Owen J. 
Wister, pending the erection of his house at what is now No. 
5253 on the site of the Christopher Saur house. Dr. Wister 
had married Sarah, the daughter of Pierce and Fanny Kemble 
Butler, whose handsome estate was on the Old York Road, by 
Thorp's Lane. AMiile the Wisters were residing here, their son, 
Owen Wister, the distinguished author, was born in i860. 

"BAYNTON'S " 

No. 5208. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4630.) 
Ward says, "this is where "Squire' Baynton lived.' Hotchkin 
speaks of it as having been the residence of "Squire'' Baynton's 
daughter. Shoemaker says, "Peter Baynton, known in the town 
as "Squire' Baynton, occupied Joseph Bullock's house at the 
corner of Main and Queen Streets. He afterward moved to 
No. 4630 Germantown Avenue." 

ST. STEPHEN'S M. E. CHURCH 

No. 5207. The Methodists began to hold services in Ger- 
mantown about 1798, and in 1800 they built a stone meeting 



2l6 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



house on Pickus's Lane, now Haines Street. In the course of 
time it became evident that the estabhshing of a Methodist 
Church in the southern part of Germantown was urgently needed, 
but no decided steps were taken in the matter until March 23, 
1856, when an informal meeting of a few of the members of the 
Haines Street Church was held at the residen e of Jacob B. 
Thomas. Beside Mr. Thomas there were present \Mlliam 
Spencer, Charles Spencer, Jonathan Wolf. William G. Spencer, 
Joseph Barrett and Robert Thomas. They were so thoroughly 
impressed with the importance of the matter, that they pledged 
themselves to contribute the money necessary to pay the salary 




FIRST BUILDING OF ST. STEPHEN'S M. E. CHURCH 



of a preacher for one year if Conference would assign one. The 
subject was officially brought to the notice of the Haines Street 
Church on the twenty-fourth of March, 1856, and it was then 
determined by a very decisive vote that a Methodist Church 
should be organized in the lower end of Germantown. 

The Annual Conference then in session gave its endorsement 
to the work, and Rev. Newton Heston, then closing the second 
year of his pastorate with the Haines Street Church, was ap- 
pointed the first pastor. The Town Hall was secured tempo- 
rarily for their meetings, and on Sunday, April 6th, 1856, a 
church organization was effected, with a membership of ninety- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 217 

six, under the name of St. Stephen's ^Methodist Episcopal Church. 
The lot upon which the present edifice stands was purchased 
of Michael Trumbower, and a brick building was erected. It 
was two stories in height, with the side fronting the street. The 
audience room was on the first floor and the Sabbath School 
room was in the second story. It was so unpretentious in ap- 
pearance that strangers often mistook it for a mill or factory 
building. It was dedicated December 21st, 1856, the sermons 
being preached by Bishop Levi Scott and Rev. William P. Corbit. 
The following pastors served the church while occupying this 
first church building: Rev. Newton Heston, 1856; Rev. William 
H. Elliott, 1857-58; Rev. Samuel W. Thomas, 1859-60; Rev. 
Curtis F. Turner, 1861-62; Rev. Wesley Kenney, 1863-64-65; Rev. 
John Thompson, 1866-67-68. 

During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Thompson, it became evi- 
dent that extensive repairs would have to be made, or a new 
church building erected. On account of its peculiar appearance, 
the first building had never been very satisfactory, and just at 
that time Mr. W. A. Church brought to the notice of the trustees 
the photograph of a church in Ireland which had attracted his 
attention. Its style of architecture met their decided approval, 
and steps were immediately taken toward the erection of the 
present beautiful edifice. The corner stone was laid October 7, 
1866, by Bishop Matthew Simpson; Revs. T. A. Fernley, J. W. 
Barnard. Curtis F. Turner, James E. Meredith and Alfred Cook- 
man also participating in the services. While the new building 
was in process of erection, the congregation worshiped in the 
old "Bull's Head Market House." which is still standing on Ger- 
mantown Avenue, above Penn Street. Although not yet com- 
pleted, the new building was dedicated December ist. 1867, ser- 
mons being preached by Rev. Jacob Todd, Rev. James Neill. and 
Rev. John S. Inskip. The following have been the pastors since 
the time of Rev. Air. Thompson : Revs. James Cunningham. 1872- 
73-74; J. B. Maddox. 1875; Jacob Todd. 1876; C. W. Bickley, 
1877-78-79; Thomas T. Everett. 1880-81-82 (on account of the 
resignation of Dr. Everett to become the private secretary of 
Gov. Pattison, the unexpired term was filled by Rev. Joseph 
Mason) ; Wesley C. Best, 1883-84-85; S. A. Heilner, 1886-87-88; 
A. L. Urban, 1889-90-91; Alpha G. Kynett. 1892-93-94-95-96; W. 
Wilberforce Cookman, 1897-98-90 (resigned in September, 1899, 



2I{ 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



to go to Johnstown, New York) ; S. M. Vernon, i899( unexpired 
term of Mr. Cookman), 1900-01-02; and G. W. Babcock, who was 
appointed in March, 1903. 

In the graveyard which is situated in the rear of the church 
are buried John Ruhhiian and his wife "Betsy." It was the lat- 




REV. NEWTON HESTON, THE FIRST PASTOR OF ST. STEPHEN'S 

M. E. CHURCH 

ter who melted her pewter spoons for the purpose of making bul- 
lets for the American soldiers. (See account in connection with 
No. 6426 Germantown Avenue.) 

The remains of John Ellis, the first soldier from German- 
town who died during the Civil War, were also buried in this 
ground, but in May, 1900. they were removed to Ivy Hill 
Cemetery. 

PARSONAGE OF ST. STEPHEN'S M. E. CHURCH 

No. 5213. (Shoemaker, No. 4623.) Henry Fraley, the pro- 
jector of the town of Manheim, once lived in this house. Shoe- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 219 

maker states that the property belonged to him in 1809. He 
was a member of Jacob Sommer's company of "Philadelphia 
Associators" during the Revolution. 

Henry Fraley's carpenter shops were situated on the site 
of the present St. Stephen's Church. The British burned them 
for the reason that they had been used as a place for the manu- 
facture of gun-carriages for the American army. 

In his later years Henry Fraley was a drum maker. The 
business w^as afterward carried on by his son-in-law, Thomas 
Bringhurst. 

In 1809 John Deal. Jacob Deal, and Peter Deal, butchers, 
lived in a house that had been built upon the site where Fraley's 
shops stood. 

"CONYNGHAM" 

No, 5214. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4634.) 

This house was built by William Forbes, but received its 
distinctive name from the fact that it was long the residence 
of David H. Conyngham, a son of Redmond Conyngham, who 
came to this country from Ireland in 1756, and was one of the 
original members of the firm of J. M. Nesbit & Co., a firm of 
great prominence at the time of the Revolution. After 1783 the 
firm became Conyngham, Nesbit & Co. 

Shoemaker is of the opinion that Mr. Conyngham had not 
yet bought this house in 1809, but that it then belonged to the 
estate of William Forbes. 

Miss Hannah W^ister occupied the house for several years 
after Mr. Conyngham left it. In 1832 it became the property 
of Alexander Provest, who sold it in 1835 to Rev. AA'illiam 
Neill. In 1844 it was purchased by Isaiah Hacker, and for more 
than thirty years it was occupied by ^Ir. Hacker and his family. 
At one time it was a boarding school, the Howell house just 
above being used as a dormitory. 

Watson, in his Annals (Vol. 2, p. 556), quoting from the 
Memoirs of General AA^ilkinson, speaks of this house as marking 
the position of a portion of the British army at the time of the 
battle. We give the entire quotation, as it concisely states the 
disposition of the British forces just before the battle opened: 

"The main body of the British occupied ground nearly at right 
angles with the main street. The front line of the school house lane 



220 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



to the west, and the church lane (its opposite) to the east. The park 
was in the area, south of the marliet house, and fronting the house 
of David Deshler (now S. B. Morris'), in which General Howe had his 
headquarters. The second line formed a parallel, at about one-fourth of 
a mile in the rear, and flanking the road near the old six-mile stone, 
before the door of H. Conyngham, Esq. The advanced body, consisting 
of the second battalion of British light infantry, with a field train, occu- 
pied the height in front of Beggarstown (Bonsall's place) on the left 
of the road, and at two miles advance from the main body, with an out- 
lying picket at Mount Airy. The 40th regiment, commanded by Colonel 
Musgrave, was in the field eastward of Chew's house." 

Nos. 5215-17. John C. Kelly's residence and salesroom 
occupies the site of Bringhurst's, after Christopher John Jung- 
kttrth's carriage shop. 




"CONYNGHAM" AND HOWELL (HACKER) HOUSE. 

HOWELL HOUSE 

No. 5218. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker. No. 4636.) 
This is on " lot No. 4B towards the Schuylkill," drawn in the 
name of John Simons and William Strepers. The next owner 
was Jan de Neus (John Nice, sometimes written Neiss), a silver- 
smith. He came from Amsterdam and was a prominent Men- 
nonite. His brother Hans, a printer, came to America at the 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



221 



same time and settled in the "Liberty Lands," at what is now 
Nicetown. The town derived its name from him. The two 
brothers were among the first members of the Alennonite Church 
in Germantown. John Nice died in 1719, being survived by his 
wife, Ehzabeth, and six children, Matthias, Cornelius, VVynard, 
William, Alitze (Alice), and Gertrude. Alice married Dirck 
Keyser. Wynard Nice purchased the property owned by his 
father and is supposed to have erected the front part of the 
present house. It is known that he owned the property in 1772. 
Shoemaker states that it belonged to the estate of William 
Forbes in 1809. A short time after this Alexander Provest be- 
came the owner. For many years it belonged to the Hacker 
family. Hopkins' Atlas gives Isaac Hacker as the owner in 
1876. It now belongs to Mr. E. I. H. Howell. 

The metallic cornice was once upon the house of Dr. Eensel!, 
that stood at the southeast corner of School House Lane and 
Germantown Avenue. It was purchased and placed in its pres- 
ent position when the Bensell house was torn down. 

At one time, in connection with the house below, it was 
used as a boarding school, this building being the dormitory. 
The following story is told about an incident which happened 
about that period : 

"A boy who was acquainted with some of the girl students wrapped 
himself in a sheet and climbed a tree on the south side of the house, 
intending to look in the window and frighten the girls. The scheme 
far exceeded the expectations of its originator, as the girls were almost 
panic stricken and raised a great commotion. An old lady living oppo- 
site was so greatly frightened that she died." 

It was also probably about this period that the following 
inscription was made with a diamond upon a pane of glass in a 
second story back window. 

The inscription is some- . - ^ . /"^ 

what difficult to decipher, j\^ ^^J^o^rpn^ J 
but the names are undoubt- 
edly the following: Ann W. 
Morris, Maria Abercromby, 
and Harriet Barclay. Miss 
Morris' full name was Ann 
Willing Morris. Miss 
Abercromby (Aber- 




222 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



crombie?) is spoken of as a bright, vivacious young lady. She 
was the daughter of the assistant minister of Christ Church and 
St. Peter's. 

Mr. E. I. H. Howell, the present owner, has kindly fur- 
nished the following interesting notes in regard to the place : 

"The original house was built of stone, fronting on Germantown 
Avenue, or Main Street, as it was then called. The present back build- 
ings of brick and stone were added about fifty years ago. But little 
change has been made in the wood work of the house, the old doors, 
the window frames, floors, etc., remain as when built. The glass in the 
second floor sash is mostly of the date of the house, and has that pecu- 
liar transparency that makes the outside view delightfully uncertain. 
The joists are of oak, and have become so hard that it is almost impos- 
sible to drive a nail into them. A few years ago, when it was desired 
to enlarge a window in the stone wall, it became necessary to use gun- 
powder to break the wall, the mortar having become as hard as the 
stone." 

Mr. Howell's remark in regard to the transparency of the 
elass windows brings to mind a statement that has been made in 




8! 




III 
III 


: 


■IV 




III 




-' tn 


ill 


- 


iM 




III 




w- 


'^~ 




•" 









CHRISTOPHER JOHN JUNGKURTHS HOUSE 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOIVN 223 

regard to the character of the whidow glass of that period. It 
is said to have produced such distortion that the Judges of the 
Courts would not receive testimony in regard to the accuracy 
of anything seen through a glass window. 

JUNGKURTH HOUSE 

No. 5219. (Shoemaker, No. 4627.) From 1775 until the 
time of his death in 1795, this property was owned by John 




CHRISTOPHER JOHN JUNGKURTH 

Bringhurst. He was prominent in Germantown affairs and was 
one of the founders of the Academy. He erected the Bringhurst 
"Big House," on the corner of Bringhurst Street. He had an 
extensive reputation as a carriage builder and was particularly 
noted for his "Germantown" wagons. In 1809 the place be- 
longed to Thomas Bringhurst, wdio was engaged in the manu- 



224 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

factnre of drums, squares, saws and coaches. At a later period 
it became the home of Christopher John Jungkurth, who was a 
manufacturer of "Germantown" wagons and omnibuses. Dur- 
ing the Civil War he became an extensive builder of army 
ambulances. 

HANDSBERRY (Theobald Endt) HOUSE 

No. 5222. (Ward and Hotchkin, No. 4638.) This property 
together with the others between it and Queen Lane, originally 
constituted "lot No. 5 towards the Schuylkill." The history of 
this lot is so interesting that a synopsis of the brief of title is 
subjoined. 

Originally an acre had been reserved out of this lot as a site 
for a "Market and Burial Place and Publick Buildings." This 
reservation of a valuable portion of a lot so eligibly situated 
could scarcely have been satisfactory to the owner, Paul Wulff, 
and the story of the manner in which he eventually got posses- 
sion of the whole lot by exchanging with the Commonalty of 
Germantown for the lands now called the Upper and the Lower 
Burying Grounds is given in the subjoined notes : 

BRIEF OF TITLE. 

PATENT. — William Penn, Esq., to Jacob Van der Walle and others 
(afterwards called the Frankfort Company) for 5700 acres in German 
Township in Pennsylvania (which they had taken up in 1GS2.) (Patent 
dated April 3, 1C89, on record in Rolls office, Philadelphia, in Patent 
Book A, Vol. 1. p. 245, etc.) 

LETTERS OF ATTORNEY.— Frankfort Company to Daniel Falkner 
and others (wherein their preceding power of attorney to one Francis 
Daniel Pastorius to that time to have subsisted is recognized). (Said 
letters of attorney are dated Jan. 24, 1700. (Record Book D 2, Vol. 4, 
p. 104.) 

DEED. — Francis Daniel Pastorius as attorney aforesaid, for 50 acres 
of the said Company's Lands in Germantown to Paul Wulff, under two 
rix dollars yearly, reserving one acre thereof for a market and burial 
place and "Publik buildings;" Deed dated 29th of the 5th mo., 1685. 
(Acknowledged in Court in Germantown the 28th November, A. D. 1693.) 

DEED. — Bailiff, Burgesses and Commonalty, By virtue of the Ger- 
mantown Charter of aforesaid William Penn, Dated 12th August, 1689 
(Record Book A, p. 277) for one-quarter of an acre (of the above re- 
served one acre) unto the said Paul Wulff. (Dated od March, 1682; 
Acknowledged in the above mentioned Court.) 

DEED. — Paul Wulff (he being then as aforesaid possessed of the 
whole fifty acres) unto Cunrad Jansen. (Deed dated 20th December, 
A. D. 1706. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 225 

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of Cunrad Jansen, therein nomi- 
nating John Neuss and the within named Dirclv Johnson to be his 
executors, and fully authorizing any of them to convey and malve deeds 
for his said lands. (Will is dated 20th December, 1717, duly proved 
and registered.) 

DEED. — May 14, 1729, Dirck Johnson as surveying executor of Cun- 
rad Jansen to Theobald Endt. (Deed Book H 20, p. 367.) 

A division of lot No. 5 having taken place, the remainder 
of the brief of title will follow the Endt property. 

Theobald Endt purchased additional grotmd as follows : 

DEED. — September 10, 1745, William Nice and Mary his wife con- 
veyed to Theobald Endt 2 lots, one of 3% acres, and another of 9 acres; 
also a 12 ft. cartway, 27 perches, 10 ft. in length. Deeds signed by 
Gertrude Johnson, a daughter of John Nice, William Johnson her son, 
Jacob Souder and Agnes his wife, and Mary Johnson, — the said Agnes 
and Mary being daughters of Gertrude Johnson. (Deed Book I, Vol. 
13, p. 89.) 

DEED. — The Executors of Jacob Bowman, by deed, June 27, 1749, 
granted one acre, 11 perches to John Theobald Endt. 

WILL. — Dated September 7, 1765. — Theobald Endt, leaves his prop- 
erty to his widow, Sibilia, for her natural life, and then to three young- 
est children, John Endt, Theobald Endt, and Mary, the wife of George 
Miller. 

(The family name is variously given as Endt, End or Ent. 
As in this case, it is not unusual for different forms to occur in 
the same document.) 

DEED. — Dated November 9, 1778, conveying the following parcels 
of land, consisting of 1% acres, 25 perches; 5 acres, 17 perches; 3% 
acres, 24 perches; 9 acres, 13 perches; also a 12 ft. lane of 1 acre, 11 
perches, to Philip Gabel. (Deed Book D 1, 297.) 

DEED. — Philip Gabel and Margaret his wife to Daniel Sinquet, for 
1000 pounds lawful gold and silver money of the United States. (Re- 
corded Jan. 1795. Deed Book D 43, p. 229.) 

DEED. — April, 1795, Daniel Sinquet and Dorothy his wife conveyed 
the property to William Forbes. (Deed Book No. 745, p. 145.) 

William Forbes died intestate and this property descended to Nathan 
Forbes, an only child. 

Nathan Forbes also died intestate, unmarried, and the title became 
vested in his paternal aunt, Elizabeth Taylor. Her children and heirs 
sold the place to Samuel Grant, Dec. 12, 1837, for $1025. 

DEED. — Samuel Grant, merchant, and Judith R., his wife, sold the 
place to Joseph Handsberry, November 11, 1839, for $1200. (Recorded 
Jan. 15, 1840. Deed Book I, p. 405.) 

The property now belongs to ]Misses E. and S. B. Hands- 
berry, the daughters of Joseph Handsberry. 



226 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

Theobald Endt erected the house. He was the re- 
corded owner in 1766. In the register at Bethlehem he is re- 
corded as a clockmaker, in January, 1742. 

In this house the first Pennsylvania Synod met, January i 
(O. S.), 1742. Dr. Julius F. Sachse states that this was the 
first attempt made in America towards an evangelical alliance 
and unification of the German Protestants. Count Zinzendorf 
was the presiding officer. 

Mr. E. C. Jellett furnishes the following additional note in 
regard to this property : 

"The house at No. 5222 Main Street, for many years owned and 
occupied by Handsberry, was the Theobald Endt house, where the first 
of the 'Unity Conferences' was held. 

"The call for this meeting addressed to the 'Brethren' at Ephrata, 
was issued December 15, 1741, by Henry Antes of Frederick, the direct- 
ing spirit in the movement. The object of this conference was the uni- 
fication of the German Sects throughout the colonies. Count Zinzendorf, 
who arrived at New York in December, 1741, upon the invitation of the 
'Swamp' enthusiasts, promptly proceeded to that progressive settlement, 
where he met Henry Antes, and became an active participant in the 
work. The first of the 'Unity' meetings was held January 1 (Old Style), 
1742. There was a total of seven meetings held, and four of them were 
held in Germantown. The fourth conference was held at the house of 
John Ashmead (now No. 5454 Main Street), and continued in session 
during March 10th, 11th and 12th, 1742. The fifth meeting was held 
at the German Reformed Church, Market Square, April 18th, 1742. The 
sixth meeting was held at the house of Lorentz Schmelze, in May, 1742. 
The other meetings were held — one at Faulkner's Swamp, one at Oley, 
and the concluding meeting at the house of Oliver Evans, in Philadel- 
phia. From the opening of the convention, where regrettable differ- 
ences arose, the conference proceeded to its close with much wrangling, 
adjotirning with its object unfulfilled." 

It finally became evident that the scheme of church unifica- 
tion which had long been cherished by Zinzendorf, Antes and 
others, could not be carried out. 

Rev. William J. Hinke, who is a well known authority upon 
the history of the German Reformed Church, states that there 
were in all about thirty-six of these "Unity" meetings held, but 
the minutes of only seven of them were reported. 

The dwelling originally had a pent-house extending along 
the front, and was of a type qtiite common among the early 
settlers. After Mr. Handsberry purchased the place, he spent 
considerable money upon it in the way of improvements. The 
interior as well as the exterior was remodeled and renovated. He 
also built the addition which is now occupied as a store. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOJVN 



227 



Mrs. Charles L. Eberle, 
a daughter of Mr. Hands- 
berrv, makes the following 
statement : 

"Before father purchased 
the property a family by the 
name of Butcher rented it. 
Father bought it for the pur- 
pose of making it his home. 
I remember distinctly hearing 
my father speak of altering and 
Improving the property. He 
first tore away a massive chim- 
ney. What is now the back 
parlor had a brick floor and 
was used as a kitchen. In it 
was a large open fire-place with 
a bake oven back of it. In the 
fire-place was an iron crane, 
for hanging tea-kettle and cook- 
ing utensils upon over the fire. 
The fire-place was so large that 
long and heavy logs could be 
burned in it." 




.TOSBPH HANDSBERRY 



Joseph Handsberry was well known as a prominent shoe 
manufacturer, and had his store at what is now No. 5224. 

Mr. Handsberry died ^March 7th. 1884. since which time his 
daughters, as previously stated, have occupied the property. 



NOTES 

The following documents will prove of interest in connec- 
tion with Paul Wulff's ownership of "lot No. 5," and will show in 
what manner he ultimately secured the ownership of the one 
acre which had been reserved out of his lot for a "Market and 
Burial Place and Publick Buildings," viz. : by giving to the Com- 
monalty in exchange for one-fourth of this acre, the land which 
was afterward called the Upper and the Lower Burying 
Grounds. On the same date he paid them "four pounds current 
silver money of Pennsilvania" for the remaining three-quarters 
of an acre. 

It is interesting to note also that this four pounds received 
from Paul Wulff was the money used for the purchase of Market 
Square, from James Delaplaine. (Sec Account of Market Square.). 



228 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

No. I. Shows the nature of Paul Wulff's original purchase 
of lot No. 5 from the Frankfort Company. 

No. 2. Shows in what way Paul Wulfif became possessed 
of the land now called the Lower Burying Ground, or Hood's 
Cemetery. 

No. 3. Shows the nature of Paul Wulff's exchange with 
the Commonalty of the lots afterward called the Upper and 



., : a, --^ 



' ^^w^^-''''-''-''^-;^i^' .' '".^ 



■..^-,lU,r.Tl/ur-> 



1 






PLAN SHOWING DIVISION OF LOT No. 5 

Lower Burying Grounds for one-quarter of the acre that had 
been reserved. 

No. 4. Shows in what way Paul Wulff secured the remain- 
ing three-quarters of an acre of the reservation on lot No. 5. 

No. 1. Paul Wulff bought, July 29, 1685, from the Frankfort Land 
Co., through Francis Daniel Pastorius, 50 acres — 2114 acres in the town 
eastwardly to William Streper's land, and N. W. to the Cross street, the 
remaining 28% acres lying in the side land towards Plymouth (16 rds. 
12 ft. wide) S. B. to Wm. Streper's and N. W. to Johannes Blicker's land. 

Acknowledged in open court at Germantown, 27th November, 1693. 
( Germantown Grund und Lager Buck, p. 206. ) 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOIVN 229 

{Literal Translation.) 

No. 2. — The present deed of record, made the 20th day of the 12th 
month (called February) in the year 1691-2, between Lenert Arns (this 
undoubtedly refers to Leonard Arets; the name occurs, even in important 
papers, in several different ways.) Inhabitant of Germantown, in the 
County of Philadelphia, as seller, on the one part, and Paul Wulff, also 
an inhabitant of the same place, on the other part, acknowledges that 
the said Lenert Arns, for and in consideration of one Pound Holland 
gold, which to him is to be given on demand, acknowledging to the 
Buyer and his Heirs on account of this payment herewith a full release 
and renunciation to the holder, Paul Wulff, yields, alienates, and aban- 
dons a half acre of land situated and lying on the east side of said 
Town towards Philadelphia, with all right, title, and interest, belonging 
to him, Lenert Arns, as granted by Deed of William Penn's at Rotter- 
dam, the 11th day of June, 1G83. Thereupon this and all appertaining 
to it in such manner to the said Paul Wulff, his Heirs and assigns, in 
such Half acre of land as free and unmolested by every one, in per- 
petuity to possess, own, and Command and distress as his property. 
However, in no way other than as a burying place, to use without the 
least molestation. Opposition or hindrance by the said seller, Lenert 
Arns to Paul Wulff, his heirs and Assigns. The said Lenert Arns also 
promises to Paul Wulff, his Heirs and Assigns, particularly for 7 years 
the costs (quit-rent?) to entirely remove, and his own legal confirmation 
of such granted half acre to give and to furnish. 

To the recording and confirmation of this Sale both the contracting 
parties to the present deed have autographically and graphically placed 
their hands and seals, at Germantown, the day and year above men- 
tioned. 

LENERT ARNS, 
PAUL WULFF. 

Done in open Court of Record held in Germantown. 2Sth Nov. 1683. 
{Germantown Grund und Lager Buck, p. 207.) 

( Litercd Translation ) 

No. 3. According to that of the First Plan of the town of German- 
town for Paul Wulff, his land, as to the required Earth release (Brdtlos) 
an acre of land for the public burying place and market place of the neces- 
sary public report and notice ordained according and to the Germantown 
articles part No. 10, with several others found. 

SO WITNESS the present contract of exchange. That on the 3d 
day of the First month called March, 1692, in a general Court held in 
Germantown, the present Burgess orders and deputes for the Commonalty 
for the aforesaid acre of land, a fourth-acre (contiguous to William 
Streper's land) in such manner to Paul Wulff has turned over, granted, 
and ordered possession to Paul Wulff. His Heirs, Successors and assigns 
in such quarter acre of land in perpetuity to hold, possess, and there- 
with as his or Their Property may hold and dispose of without the 
least hindrance, opposition, or molestation from the Commonalty. The 
rule and control on the contrary (or opposite side) has the said Paul 
Wulff yielded for the aforesaid ceded quarter acre to the Germantown 
public and their Posterity, likewise forever appertaining, released and 
surrendered a whole acre of land, namely a half acre on the east side 



230 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

of said Town lying towards Philadelpliia, and the otlier half acre in the 
West side of said town towards Plymouth, to this effect and in such 
manner that either half acre can, without opposition (or legally) be 
laid out for a public burying place. 

Ordered that the aforesaid exchange by the general Court be writ- 
ten in the public Rathsbuch and fixed (signed) for the confirmation 
and ratification of such. 

Done in open Court of Record held in Germantown, 28th Nov. 1683. 
{Germantown Grund und Lager Buck, p. 209.) 

{Literal Ti anslation.) 
No. 4. "Whereas the first settlers of Germantown aforesaid. Anno 
Domini 1683. have laid out and reserved before the sixth lot on the west 
side of the said Town, One Acre of land for a Market, Town-House, 
Burying place and other publick buildings, uses, behoofs, whatsoever, 
the said Sixth Lot then being the midst or Center of the abovesaid 

Town On the third day of the First month called March, 

in the year 1693, have granted and exchanged to and with Paul Wulff 
one quarter of the aforesaid One Acre of land for and in Consideration 
of One whole acre, whereof half an acre is situated at the East Side 
of said Town and the other half acre at the West Side of the Same 
Town, as by the said Deed more fully appears. Now know ye that ye 
above mentioned Bailiff, Burgesses and Commonalty of Germantown for 
the Common good, and to purchase a Place nearer the now midst or 
Center of the said Town, as also for and in Consideration of Four 
Pounds Current Silver money of Pennsilvania, to them in hand paid by 

the sd Paul Wulff Have given, granted, aliened, bargained, 

sold, enfeoffed, and Confirmed, and herewith do Clearly and absolutely 
give, grant, etc., to the said Paul Wulff all the remaining three quar- 
ters of the above said one acre of land." 

V Germantoion Grund und Lager Bnch, p S09.^ 

In connection with the account of Market Sqtiare, a Hteral 
translation of the original Court record is given, which shows 
that the four pounds received from Paul Wulff for this remaining 
three-quarters of an acre of land was on "the 6th of the nth 
month, 1703-4," paid to James De la Plaine, for the land afterward 
called "Alarket Square." 

In record No. 4, quoted above, it is not clear why the sixth 
lot should be alluded to. This transaction is with Paul Wulff, 
and Paul Wulff never owned lot No. 6. It may be that the ex- 
pression "before the sixth lot" really means the lot which precedes 
the sixth, namely, the fifth. 

JOHN BECHTEL HOUSE 

No. 5226. (Shoemaker, No. 4646.) This was once the home 
of Rev. John Bechtel, the close friend of Count Zinzendorf, and 







ir^'arj:/ 



^^f «^: 










HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 233 

the first pastor of the original church built at Market Square. 
It was to his labors that the organization of that church was 
chiefly due. 

An old draft records this place as belonging to Jacob Ritter 
in 1772, and to Noah Townsend in 1774. Alexander Provest 
lived here in 1809. 

John Bechtel was born October 3, 1690, at Weinheim, in 
the Palatinate, and came to Germantown in 1726, where he re- 
sided for nearly twenty years. His parents intended to train 
him for the ministry, but this purpose was frustrated by their 
death while he was yet but a child. He became, however, a very 
devout man, and as early as 1728, while still a layman, he began 
preaching at Germantown. The congregation which he gath- 
ered around him eventually built a church at Market Square, and 
in 1733 called him to become their pastor. On the i8th of April, 
1742, he was regularly ordained by Bishop David Nitzschman, 
acting under the advice and direction of Count Zinzendorf, "to 
labor with the Reformed Brethren who were connected with the 
synod." 

One of the most important services rendered by Bechtel was 
the preparation of a Reformed Catechism for the use of the Re- 
formed Congregation in Pennsylvania. This was printed by 
Benjamin Franklin in 1742, and is said to have been one of the 
finest specimens of the printer's art executed in America up to 
that time. 

In 1741 Count Zinzendorf arrived in Germantown, and al- 
though Bechtel met him with some hesitation at first, yet they 
eventually became fast friends, the Count taking up his residence 
with Mr. Bechtel. The first sermon that Count Zinzendorf 
preached in America is said to have been on the 30th of December, 
1 741, in the church on Market Square, of which Bechtel was pas- 
tor. In the course of time it became more and more evident that a 
large proportion of the congregation worshiping in the Market 
Square Church Avere not in harmony with their pastor, many 
being distrustful of his intimacy with Count Zinzendorf, and on 
the 9th of February, 1744, Mr. Bechtel was dismissed from the 
pastorate. From this time forward his affiliations appear to have 
been with the Moravians, ^^d-len, in 1746. a number of the resi- 
dents of Germantown petitioned the Moravians at Bethlehem to 
establish a school for their children, lohn Bechtel offered his 



234 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



house and lot to the Mo- 
ravian Brethren for that 
purpose. His offer was 
accepted, and the school 
was opened on the 26th 
of September of that 
year, with provision for 
boarding as well as day 
scholars. Rev. James 
Greening, of London, 
was placed in charge. 
It opened with five girl 
students who boarded, 
but soon nearly all the 
children of the Brethren 
in Philadelphia attended. 

It is an interesting 
circumstance that about 
the same time he trans- 
ferred property to the 
Moravians to be used 
for the purposes of a 
school, he also deeded to 
Cornelius Weygant* and 
wife, for a mere nominal 
consideration, and for 
the love and affection 
that he bore them, the 
property immediately ad- 
joining his residence on 
the north. Weygant had 
married Bechtel's eldest daughter, Mary Agneta, July 5, 1739. 

Upon that occasion Bechtel presented the young couple with 
a high case clock which was made by Augustine Neisser, a well 
known early clock maker of Germantown. This clock has been 
in the possession of the family ever since. It is now owned by 
Mr. Cornelius N. Weygandt. 

In 1747 ]\Ir. Bechtel also gave a piece of ground in the rear 



Kurzer 

CATECHISMUS 

Vor etliche 

Gemeinen JESU 

Aus der 

Reformirten Religion 

In Pe NNS YLyANIA^ 

Tiiifich zum alt en BernerSYNODO balkn: 

Herau5gegeben von 

Johannes Bechteln, 
Dieuer des Worts G o T t-es. 




PHILADELPHIA, 
Gedruckt bey Benjamin Franklin, 174* 

TITLE PAGE OF THE ORIGINAL 

(GERMAN) EDITION OF JOHN 

BECHTEL'S CATECHISM 



•I Such is the spelling in the deed. This, like many of the German 
family names, appears in several different forms. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 
A Short 



235 



of his house and lot for 
a Moravian burial place. 



itv of John \\\ Jordan 
(Historical Xotcs relating 
to the Fennsylvania Re- 
formed Church, by Henry 
S. Batterer, p. 96), "sev- 
eral burials were made 
in the garden of the 
Bechtel lot." The his- 
tory of this part of the 
Bechtel property is not 
altogether clear, for on 
April 9, 1759, Mr. Bech- 
tel deeded this portion 
of his property to Jacob 
C. Clyme. (Deed Book 
H 10, p. 142.) 

Soon after the trans- 
ferring of his property 
in Germ an town, Mr. 
1') e c h t e 1 removed to 
Bethlehem, where he 
lived in retirement un- 
til his death, which oc- 
curred April 16, 1777. 
He had married. Febru- 
ary 15. 1 71 5, Maria Apol- 
lonia Marret. She died 
at Bethlehem in 1758. 
Of their five daughters, Mary Agneta married Cornelius 
VVeygant (Weygand, Weygandt) ; Ann Margaret was mar- 
ried by Count Zinzendorf to Rev. Gottlob Buttner, the In- 
dian missionary, in 1742. She afterward married Rev. John G. 
Youngman, who was also a missionary among the Indians. The 
third daughter, ?^Iary Susan, married Rev. John Levering, a 
grandson of Gerhard Levering, who was one of the founders of 
Roxborough. Maria Apollonia, another daughter, married Chris- 
tian Weber, of Bethlehem. Of the other daughter there appears 
to be no record. 



FOR SOME 

Congregations af jfESUS 

Of T H E 

Reformed RELIGION 

In PENNSTLFANIA, 

Y'ho keep to the ancient Sy^ioooi BERN, 

Agreeable to 

The Doctrine 

Of the 

MORAVIAN CHURCH 

Firfl publillicd 

In G E R MAN, 

B y 

JOHN BECHTEL, 

Minifter of the Word of G O D. 

P H HAD E LPHIA 

Printed by Isaiah Warner, almoft oppofuc 

to Charles Brockden's in C^(/««/- 

^irat. MDCCXLU 

TITLE PAGE OP THE ENGLISH 
EDITION OF JOHN BECHTEL'S 
CATECHISM 



236 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

Alexander Provest, a stone mason, resided here in 1809. He 
afterward moved two doors below to what is now the Howell 
house. He is particularly remembered for having built some of 
the most important bridges in and around Germantown, notably 
the Township Line bridge over Paper I\Iill Run, and the abut- 
ments of the Reading Railroad bridge at Wayne Junction. He 
also built the bridge over the Wingohocking Creek at Church 
Lane. When the street was graded and the creek diverted into 
a sewer, the bridge was allowed to remain, and the earth was 
filled in on both sides. In 1901, the masonry was uncovered in 
the process of lowering the gas main, when the arches under- 
neath were found to be dry and dusty, showing how thoroughly 
the masonry had been built. 

About 1845 the place came into the hands of Henry Wolte- 

mate, who left it to his wife. It is now owned by Henry C. Wol- 

temate. 

NOTES 

The deed to Cornelius Weygant and wife is still in existence, and 
is in tlie possession of Dr. N. H. Keyser, of Germantown. It was made 
Nov. 5, 1745, and was acknowledged before Justice of the Peace Thomas 
Yorke, February 19, 1745-46. The witnesses were Imanuel Kalckgloser 
and Christian Lehman. 

There has been a considerable amount of confusion in reference 
to the schools of the Moravians or Brethren that were established in 
Germantown. Townsend Ward says, "The first school conducted by 
Moravians in this country was opened in the spring of 1742, in the 
house occupied by Count Zinzendorf. In March of that year he rented 
the house numbered 4792 (now 5454) belonging to an early Ashmead." 
He also states that on May 14th, "The school was opened by Count 
Zinzendorf with twenty-hve girls and teachers, Zinzendorf's fair daughter, 
the Countess Benigna, at this time just passing the age of sweet sixteen, 
being one of them. In June of the same year the school was trans- 
ferred to Bethlehem, where it remains." 

Rev. Joseph Henry Dubbs, D. D., in his "History of the Reformed 
Church in Pennsylvania," published in the "Proceedings of the Penn- 
sylvania-German Society," Vol. XI, has the following foot note on page 
121: "The Moravians opened a school in Germar.town in 1742, in the 
house of Brother Ashmead. (Jordan's 'John Bechtel,' p. 12; Reichel 
Mem., p. 49.)" 

It is certain that on ]\Iarch 22, 1742, a call was issued invit- 
ing those interested in establishing a school to meet at Bechtel s 
or Lehman's in Germantown. The following is a fac-simile of 
the circular, the translation of which has been kindly furnished 
by Miss Hannah Wister : 




HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOJVN 237 

"For the benefit of the children of all German parents residing in 
the country, who would be glad to have them better taken care of 
without neglect of their households, it is proposed to make a simple and 
heartfelt appeal on the following sixteenth of April, 1742, in the after- 
noon at one o'clock. In furtherance of which the fathers and mothers 
in all Townships who are desirous for the welfare of their children are 
asked to present themselves at the appointed hour at Bechtel's or the 
potter Lehman's house. Those who cannot be present can express their 
opinion through some one else. 
Germantown, March 22, 1742." 



|££en teutfc^en Sftetn mif tern 2m 
itt ml^t itixt ^inkt getnc bejfet 
teforget fd^en o^ne^inberimg i^re^^aii^ 
W(ftnh geJencf et man baju einen einfd^ 
tisen uvS> m^li^tn ^Borfc^ilag jii thm 
m nec|)ftf(>Igen&en 6"" i^pri(i742. 3?ad()^ 
mittage urn i ll^r> SBovnacb fi* ki 

#?utter in aKen^ott)nfcf)ip^ ju tic^tenfce^ 
Mmi mi ft* &ep6al5en m kia^x 3eit 
unb (Stmk an ^tWi ober M^ap 
ner^ I5e^man^ ^mft in ^ermantomn 
mtlkn mUtn. SBer itM nic^t f ommen 
fan/ kv mUt feine 3)?e9nimft itmrnh 
mkt^ aufrtagen. 

CALL FOR MEETING WHICH ORGANIZED THE FIRST 
MORAVIAN SCHOOL 



It is reasonably certain that, as a result of this call, a school 
was established, as has been claimed, in the Ashmead house, May 
14, 1742, and that it was transferred to Bethlehem in June of the 
same year. It seems also probable that the Brethren in Ger- 
mantown, dissatisfied at the removal which left them unprovided 



238 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

with the school facihties they desired, prepared the petition in 
1746 that resulted in the establishment of a school in John Bech- 
tels hovise. This school was discontinued in May, 1749. 

(For a full and clear account of the labors of Rev. John Bechtel in 
Germantown, see "The Early History of the German Reformed Church 
at Germantown," by Rev. Prof. William J. Hinke, given in another part 
of this work.) 

SITE OF THE RESIDENCE OF THE VAN LASHETS; 

NOW OCCUPIED BY WOLTEMATE'S 

GREEN HOUSES 

Nos. 5230-32. (Ward and Hotchkin, No. 4646; Shoemaker, 
No. 4650.) "The Lasche (Laschett) family was scattered by the 
persecutions of the Revocation period. One branch found shel- 
ter in a secluded place in Italy, and from thence they removed to 
Saxony, Prussia, and Switzerland. In 1736 arrived John Jacc»b 
(Van) Laschet, who was then fifty years of age, and his sons 
John Peter, and Christian, aged 25 and 18 years respectively. 
This branch had located at Crefels, in the Duchy of Cleves, 
■where it became identified with the "Brethren," and of which 
society they became prominent members, several being minis- 
ters. The immigrant located in Earl township, Lancaster 
county, where he died prior to 1754. He was a delegate to the 
famous Union Synod held at Germantown in 1742. The family 
was established at Germantown and on the Conewago in York 
county, and also at Aimwell, New Jersey, at an early day." 
("Memoirs of tlic Huguenots in America," by Rev. A. Stapleton, A. 
M., M. S., pp. 114, 115.) 

This tract of land was deeded by John Bechtel to Cornelius 
Weygant in 1745. March 4. 1772, Christian Van Lashet bought 
considerable land in this vicinity. He was undotibtedly the one 
mentioned as a son of the original emigrant, John Jacob Van 
Laschet. Included in the purchase made by Christian Van 
Laschet was land belonging to Cornelius \\>ygant, Jacob Ritter, 
and Imanuel Kalckgloser. He also purchased some lots fronting 
on the road to Schuylkill Ferry (now Queen Street) in 1774, 
from Jacob Bowman and Joseph Morris. 

Shoemaker says, "Christian Van Lauchet was a carpenter 
and pump-maker, and there was a Christopher living here in 
1809." He also says, "The old house had the regulation half 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 239 

door. The upper half had a deep cut running diagonally across 
it, made by a British officer with his sword. A man who was 
standing inside had offended the officer, and had just time to pull 
the door to and let it receive the blow intended for his head." 

Townsend Ward, who wrote in 1882, says, "Christian and 
John, grandsons of the long ago Barbara Van Lauchet, have re- 
cently died. They were the last of the name." 

On the north side of the house was a little shop that John 
Van Lashet occupied as a carriage shop. It was afterward oc- 
cupied by Henry Brunner as a carpenter shop, and still later by 
Schaeffer and Chatburn, painters. It stood where No. 5230 now 
stands. The last occupant of the old house was Christian Klein, 
a cooper. The house was torn down in 1881. at the time when 
Albert Woltemate erected his large green-houses upon the site 
of the house and shop. 

Nos. 5234-36. (Old numbers, 4054-56.) This is also one of the 
properties that originally belonged to Paul Wulff's "lot No. 5 
towards the Schuylkill." In 1743 this lot and the one above were 
owned by Imanuel Kalckgloser,^ a stocking weaver. In a mort- 
gage given by him to John Wilkinson, the property is described 
as "two lots between Jacob Bowman's land and John Bechtel's 
land. This mortgage was satisfied October 25, 1748. (Deed 
Book G. 5 — 32.) 

A new mortgage given to Rebecca Edgett October 22, 1748, 
speaks of a house and two lots. (Deed Book G. 10 — 2^C).). 

The rear of Nos. 5234-36 is very old, as is also the rear of 
Nos. 5238-40, but it is difficult to determine which is the older. 

The property of Imanuel Kalckgloser was sold at Sheriff's 
sale, June 4, 1751, the purchaser being Christopher Meng. July 
27, 1752, Christopher Meng deeded the property to Christian Van 
Lashet, a storekeeper. 

June 14, 1795, Christian A"an Lashet deeded the property 
to his only son. Christopher A^an Lashet. In this deed 
the property is described as two stone houses. (Deed Book 
EF 20—35^.) 

February 21, 1834, John and Harman Van Lashet, adminis- 



5 This name appears in several different ways: Kalckgloeser, Kalkgleser, 
TCalckg-leser, and Kalckg-loser. Not infrequently more than one of these 
forms is found in the same document. He signed his name Kalckgloser. 



240 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 

trators of Christopher Van Lashet, deeded the property to Chris- 
topher Van Lashet. (Deed Book AM, ^0-461.) 

August 26, 1845, Christopher Van Lashet sold the property 
to Cephas G. Childs, and August 30th of the same year the latter 
sold it to John Straley, a farmer, who opened a saloon in the old 
building. 

December 12, 1868, John Straley deeded the property to his 
daughter, Hannah ]\L Straley, who married Morris Umsted. 
(Deed Book JTO 222—342.) 

]\-\\y 8, 1876, Morris Umsted and wife Hannah deeded the 
property to William F. Magee, an "Innholder." 

Nos. 5238-40. (Old numbers, 4058-60.) This house is on 
the upper lot of Imanuel Kalckgloser's. The property went 
through as many hands as the one below it. In 1805 it belonged 
to Christopher Bockius. In 1876 it was still recorded in his 
name. It was afterward sold to William C. Ro3'al. 

About 1850 Pattie Maxwell kept a boarding house here. In 
the rear is an old house that was once occupied by an old Ger- 
man couple named Adam and Barbara Swope. They were much 
annoyed by the children of the neighborhood, who thoughtlessly 
made them the targets for their funny pranks. About 1880 the 
front house was occupied by a colored man named Samuel Rob- 
inson, who kept an oyster saloon. ''Sam" was known to every- 
body in the town, and as he made his rounds in delivering oysters 
he caused much merriment and laughter because of his funny 
sayings. 

The place is still kept as a restaurant. 

No. 5229. This house, now occupied by Dr. Edwin I. Becker, 
was built by Jabez Gates on the site of a frame dwelling which 
was once the home of George Watson, a popular carriage builder. 
He eventually became insane, and his wife was accidentally 
burned to death by reason of her dress catching fire from a char- 
coal furnace. 

SITE OF THE "BRINGHURST BIG HOUSE" 

Nos. 5233-37. At the time of the British occupation, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel John Bird occupied the Bringhurst house, and 
he was there lying sick when on the morning of October 4, 
1777, the attack on the town was made by the American army. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOJVN 



241 



Notwithstanding his weak physical condition, he rose from his 
sick bed and promptly took his place at the head of his men. 
During the battle he was mortally wounded and was carried 
on a stretcher to the porch of Melchoir Meng's house situated 
on ^vhat is now a part of Vernon Park. He was there tem- 
porarily treated by the regimental surgeon, and was then re- 
moved to his quarters at the Bringhurst house. W'atson states 
that just before he died he exclaimed to the woman there, 
"Woman, pray for me. I leave a widow and four children." 
Jabez Gates bought the house and altered the northern part 




BRINGUUKST'S "BIG HOUSE" 

of it into a store. Some years later he built an entire new front 
to the property : 

The following account of John Bringhurst. from "The Gene- 
alogy of the Bringhurst Family'' by Josiah Granville Leach, will be 
of interest in this connection : 

"John Bringhurst, born Feb. 19, 172.5, died March 18, 1795. His 
estate consisted of 19 acres. Some years after his deatli his heirs 
divided his estate into building lots, and opened through the land the 
street bearing the family name. 



242 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

"Mr. Bringhurst was a prominent citizen of Germantown, and there 
conducted an extensive business as a coach and chaise builder. He 
was one of the first to build what was known as the 'Germantown 
wagon,' in the construction of which he largely engaged after the Revo- 
lution. In 1780 he built a 'chariot' for General Washington, who, on the 
20th of March of that year had written from the Headquarters of the 
Army to John Mitchell, deputy-quartermaster-general, as follows: 'You 
will do me a favor by enquiring and letting me know as soon as possi- 
ble if any good coach-maker in Philadelphia or Germantown (Bringhurst 
for instance), will engage to make me a genteel chariot with real har- 
ness for four horses to go with two postilions. I wish to know the 
terms and in how short a time it can be done.' Two days later he wrote 
further: 'In case you should purchase, please to have my arms and 
crest properly disp'd of on the chariot.' Four days afterwards, Mr. 
Mitchell wrote to Washington as follows: 'This day I went to German- 
town and have prevailed on Mr. Bringhurst to let you have a chariot 
he has on hand. It appears to be good work and well seasoned timber. 
The size 3 ft. 6i^ in. high and 3 ft. 10 in. wide, — and will have a very 
good second cloth or better if to be got. This will be ready in six 
weeks.' From other letters that passed between Washington and Mitchell 
we find the price paid was 210 pounds in gold, that Mr. Bringhurst had 
purchased Gen. Washington's old coach, for which he paid 27 pounds, 
and that the chariot was used the first time in the latter part of June 
to carry Mrs. Washington from Philadelphia to Mount Vernon. Mr. 
Bringhurst was recognized as the foremost man in Philadelphia County 
in his line of business." 



The "Germantown wagons" alluded to in the preceding arti- 
cle were, for a long time, very popular. They were at first 
called "calf wagons." being a sort of compromise between an 
ordinary market wagon and a carriage. They were much used 
by farmers for the conveyance of calves to market, and also for 
carrying small lots of farm produce. They were afterward 
elaborated and improved upon, and expensive carriages, called 
"Germantown carriages," were built after the general style. 

BRINGHURST STREET 

East from No. 5237. Opened through the Bringhurst 
property. 

Nos. 5239-41-43, (Old numbers, 4641-43-45.) These stores 
were erected upon the site of three stone dwellings built by 
Alexander Provest, who was at that time living in the house 
above. They were originally occupied by his married children. 
The corner house was the home of Katherine. the widow of 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



243 



Paul Provest ; it was afterward occupied by her son Paul after 
his marriage to Annie Sommer. The middle house was Jacob 
Provest's. The upper one was occupied by Isabelle Provest 
after her marriage to Naaman Keyser ; they afterward moved 
to the Indian Queen Inn which Mr. Keyser had bought and re- 
modeled into a grocery store. The next occupant of the upper 
house was Rev. William Nicholas Diehl, the first pastor of the 




PROVEST HOUSES 



church of St. John the Baptist. Its last occupant was Christian 
Klein, a cooper. He lived there until the buildings were sold in 
1895 and then moved to a part of the King of Prussia Inn which 
had been converted into stores and dwellings. The three houses 
stood some distance back from the street, and while the Provests 
lived there a beautiful lawn studded with trees extended along 
the front. In later years, when tenants came to occupy the 
houses, the lawn gave place to vegetable gardens. These were 
always well cared for and were very attractive. Sometimes, 



2zH ■ HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

peeping through a covering of snow, the green shoots of early 
lettuce and peas could be seen. 

Nos. 5245-47, In 1840 this property belonged to Alexander 
Provest, and he continued to reside here until his death, which 
occurred January 5, 1845. I^ ^he rear of the house he planted 
a number of choice pear trees, two of which are still standing 
and bearing fruit. For a number of years the house was occu- 
pied by James Taylor. 

The Provost (Prevost, Provoost, Provest) family were 
French Huguenots and came originally from Normandy. They 
trace their hneage back to William Provost, who, when he was 
twenty-seven years of age, being warned by a Colonel in the 
army of the King, fled into Holland and escaped the JMassacre of 
St. Bartholomew,, which occurred August 24, 1572. His brother 
Augustine escaped to Geneva, but the other members of the 
family perished in the massacre. The descendants of Augustine 
retained the French form of the name, Prevost, but the descend- 
ants of William, living as they did, in Holland, naturally took 
the Dutch form of the name, Provoost, which, in the language 
of that country, signified judge, marshal or mayor, and was 
the equivalent of the French word Prevost. Among the descend- 
ants of these families who emigrated to America, the change 
to the form Provost began to appear about 1750. 

John Provost, who is believed to have been a descendant of 
William, came wdth his family to America and settled on the 
Brandywine. Alexander, the youngest of his three sons, settled 
in Germantown and married Margaretta, daughter of Jacob Som- 
mer, March 11, 1798. He was a tax payer in Germantown in 
1809. He always wrote his name 




/ 

SIGNATURE OF ALEXANDER PROVEST 

It occurs thus on legal documents and on his will. The present 
generation of the family, however, prefer the form Provost, as 
most of the EnsfHsh and American descendants have done. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 245 

Alexander and ^Margaretta Provest had nine children. Alexan- 
der, the eldest, followed the same occupation as his father, which 
was that of a stone mason. He prospered well in Germantown, 
but he finally removed to W^ashington, where he did much work 
for the United States Government. 

Mr. John R. Butcher gives the following recollections of 
John Provest's school : 

On Germantown Avenue a little above Bringhurst Street, still stands 
the old dwelling that was formerly owned by Alexander Provest. It has 
been remodeled and the front part has been converted into two stores, 
numbered 5245 and 5247. More than fifty years ago, John, the son of 
Alexander Provest, kept a pay school in the rear of the building. His 
school was on the second floor. It was a two-story frame structure, and 
is in good condition at the present time. Instruction was given only in 
those branches which at that time were considered the essentials of a 
plain English education, viz: Reading, Writing, Spelling, Arithmetic. 
He was very strict with us, but we respected him for his good qualities 
as a teacher. Our writing was done entirely with quill pens, for in those 
days we did not even know what steel pens were. Good, clear goose 
quills, suitable for pens, then commanded a very fair price. Mr. Pro- 
vest's sister Margaret always prepared these pens, and so regular was 
she in making her appearance in the school room with them that we 
could tell the time of day by her coming. As we had no large school 
yard, at recess we were apt to overrun the yards in the immediate 
neighborhood in playing the various games in vogue at that time. But 
our best patronized play-ground was the old Germantown Pike that 
ran in front of the building. How different were the games of those 
days from those popular at the present time. "Hide-and-whoop," "I 
spy," "Tiger," and "Himk-a-dee," were some of our favorite games. 
"Corners," "Single-handed-cat," "Double-handed-cat," and "Ring-cat," 
were the ball games of that period. The last named developed later into 
"Town-ball," and afterward into "Base-ball." Charles J. Wister, Sr., who 
lived opposite Indian Queen Lane, was evidently fond of children, for 
often, when he was taking his walks down the old "pike," he would 
stop and enjoy our fun when we were playing at recess. Sometimes he 
would fling a handful of pennies otit among the crowd and enjoy seeing 
the wild scramble for them. At other times, when top spinning was in 
season, he would bring some of his dogwood and lignum vitae tops with 
him and scatter them among the boys in the same manner. No one 
enjoyed the contest for their possession more than Mr. Wister himself. 
He was an expert turner and made many of these tops for the boys 
of Germantown. Four of these tops that I received in 1844 I kept until 
1902, when I gave them to Dr. N. H. Keyser, to add to his collection. 

Mr. Provest was very much opposed to the use of tobacco, and 
was especially indignant if he discovered any one using it in school. 
Tobacco was low in price at that time, and some of the boys would 
secretly indulge in its use, taking the chance of incurring the teacher's 
anger. 

Some of the pupils that attended the school are still living; 
among them were James R. Gates, Edward Royal. Thomas Jones, 



246 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

Robert McKinney, Luke Williams, George Finkle, William Dedier, and 
John R. Butcher. 

INDIAN QUEEN INN. 

Nos. 5242-44, As has been previously stated, this land, to- 
gether, with all below as far as the southern boundary of the 
Handsberry property, constituted the Main Street front of "lot 
No. 5 towards the Schuylkill," which was drawn in the name 
of Paul VVulff in 1689. December 20, 1706, Paul Wulff sold it 
to Conrad Jansen. At Jansen's death the property was divided 



NAAMAN KEYSER'S STORE (ONCE THE INDIAN QUEEN INN) 

and sold. His will is dated 1717. Jacob Bowman appears as 
the next owner of the corner lot, and it was after him that the 
street was named Bowman's Lane. The next owner was George 
Smith, and in 1766 it belonged to George Losh. In 1809 it was 
owned by Michael Riter, and was then known as the Indian 
Queen Inn. After Riter's death it was kept for a time by the 
father of "Squire" Joseph King as a temperance hotel. 

Naaman Keyser afterward bought the place and established 
himself in the grocery business. His grounds extended as far 
back as the lot of Polly Watts. Her house is still standing, 
nearly opposite the sawmill of Watson and Robinson. Alary 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOJVN 247 

L. \\^atts was murdered by a neighbor, Christian Berger, who 
broke into her place with the intention of robbery. The old 
lady was knocked senseless, and, on partially reviving, recog- 
nized "lier assailant and called out, "I know you," whereupon 
he returned and cut her throat. 

Naaman Keyser continued at the corner until 1864, when 




NAAMAN KEYSER 



he concluded to give up the grocery business on account of 
the store order system then in vogue. He sold the property 
to William C. Royal. February 20. 1864. The deed mentions 
the place as the ''^Messuage known as Indian Queen and lot." 

Since that time it has had several occupants. The original 
building has been divided into two stores, so that the appearance 
of the property has been considerably changed. 



248 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

The following anecdote is told of Naaman Keyser. On 
one occasion he drove into the city for the purpose of laying 
in a supply of fireworks for the Fourth of July. On the way 
home he accidentally dropped his cigar in the wagon, and in 
an instant he was astonished at finding himself in the midst 
of a most remarkable display of pyrotechnics amid the solitude 
of Naglee's Hill. 

An amusing story was long current in regard to Betsy 
Shuster, one of Naaman Keyser's customers. It had its origin 
in the fact that she was the mother of a fun-loving boy who was 
so notoriously careless in regard to his attire and personal 
appearance that his fond parent was often driven almost to the 
verge of despair. The extraordinary facility with which this 
youngster could tear and almost entirely destroy a new pair 
of pants was something remarkable. After much experiment 
his mother discovered that he only material which could with- 
stand his efforts was the coarse canvas of an old salt sack. It 
was said that she used to buy these sacks from Mr. Keyser. 
They were carefully washed and laid away, and when the young 
gentleman stood in need of another pair of pants, his mother 
used to spread one of the sacks upon the floor, and then making 
him lie down upon it at full length, she marked out his shape 
with a piece of chalk. A\^ith a pair of heavy shears she cut 
along these lines, and when she had stitched together the edges 
of the two pieces thus cut out, the youngster was in 
possession of a garment that could withstand the heaviest ser- 
vice, being especially adapted to one of his favorite sports, that 
of sliding down cellar doors. 

SITE OF THE DWELLING AND PRINTING ESTABLISH- 
MENT OF CHRISTOPHER SAUR 

Nos. 5253-55. (Ward and Hotchkin, No. 4653. Old num- 
bers, 4645-53.) On the site of this mansion once stood the 
dwelling and printing establishment of Christopher Saur. The 
dwelling extended out to the street line ; the printing establish- 
ment and bindery was situated in the rear. (The name has been 
variously spelled as Saur, Sauer, and Sower. The last form is 
that accepted by his descendants as the family name. It is 
worthy of note that in books printed in German by the Saurs 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



249 



the name was spelled Saur ; in English editions it was given as 
Sower.) 

Christopher Saur was born at Laasphe, Wittgenstein, West- 
phalia, in 1693. He came to Germantown in 1724, together with 
his wife Maria Christina and his only son Christopher ( 2). In 
the same company with them came also Charles Mackinet, John 
Adam Gruber, Charles Glein and a number of others. In the 
spring of 1726 he removed to a place near Ephrata, but returned 
to Germantown with his son in April, 1731. While residing in 




RESIDENCE OF CHRISTOPHER SOWER, FIRST AND SECOND, 

ERECTED IN 1731 

(The Printing- Establishment, Bindery, etc., occupied the building- 

in the rear.) 

Lancaster county his wife became a convert to the doctrines 
taught by Conrad Beissel, and left her husband in 1730 to join 
the mystical community of which Beissel was the leader. She 
became the sub-prioress of the sisterhood under the name of 
Sister Marcella. After a separation of over fifteen years she 
rejoined her husband at Germantown. June 20, 1745. largely 
owing, it is thought, to the influence of her son. It is not im- 
probable, however, that her illusion had, in a manner, been dis- 
pelled, as their after life is known to have been one of harmony 
and happiness. 



250 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

Mr. Saur was a man of unusual ability and fertility of at- 
tainments. He is said to have acquired proficiency in about 
thirty different pursuits. In some legal papers he is recorded 
as a "clock and mathematical instrument maker." His financial 
prosperity at Germantown must have been rapid, for in 1731 
he built the large stone house that stood on the site of Xos. 
5253-55. The dwelling was situated close to the street and was 
torn down about i860. By means of movable partitions the 
rooms on the second floor could be thrown together so that 
meetings for religious worship could be held there. It was also 
used, when occasion demanded, as a hospital for the sick. Upon 
one occasion Mr. Saur learned that a vessel had arrived at Phila- 
delphia from Germany with a number of sick passengers on 
board. With the assistance of his friends he gathered together 
conveyances and brought the sufferers to his house. Here they 
received medical treatment and were nursed and supported until 
they recovered and were able to labor for themselves. 

Mr. Saur soon perceived that the settlement was lacking in 
facilities for printing, and he therefore determined to become a 
printer. A supply of type and necessary material was secured 
from Europe, and in 1739 he published the first German Almanac 
issued in this country, and the same year the first German news- 
paper, under the title of ''Dcr Hodi-Dcutscli Pcnnsylvanischc Gc- 
schicJit - Schreihcr;" or "High German Pennsylvania Historian, 
or collection of nezvs from the Kingdom of Nature and of the Chureli." 
In 1743 he published the first German Bible printed in America, 
forty years before an English edition was published in this 
country. 

The German population of the colony was now very large, 
and a German Almanac had long been earnestly desired. It is 
difficult for us, at this day, to comprehend the importance of the 
publication of this Almanac. Abraham H. Cassel, a descend- 
ant of Christopher Saur, has given an extended and interesting 
account of it in the Pennsylz'ania Magazine, J\il. 6. Among the 
more ignorant of the community it was regarded as a great 
novelty and with something of a feeling of awe. Its prognosti- 
cations of the weather, especially, were relied upon implicitly. 
This feeling of confidence was no doubt partialis due to Mr. 
Saur's well known integrity and veracity. jMr. Cassel relates 
the following amusing story to illustrate the embarrassments to 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 251 

which Mr. Saur was frequently subjected on account of these 
predictions of the weather. 

"A man named Welker, from above Sumneytown, had occasion to go 
to Philadelphia; so he referred to his almanac, which promised a 'row' 
of fair weather. In consequence he started without a cover to his 
wagon, but had not gone far until it began to get cloudy, and soon com- 
menced to rain, and was very disagreeable. The man was sorely vexed 
at being thus deceived and fooled just on account of 'that silly weather 
book,' and thought if he could only get hold of 'that old Saur,' he 
would give him a complete reprimand for publishing such lies. So, 
whe'n he came to Germantown, he stopped at the printing office some- 
what in a passion to give the printer his intended lecture. But Saur 
in his accustomed meekness replied: 'O Friend! Friend! be not thus 
angry, for although it was I that made the Almanac, the Lord God 
made the weather.' Whereupon the man cooled off, and went his way 
pretty well satisfied, especially when it soon lighted up again, and he 
had fair weather for the rest of his journey." 

In consequence of frequent occurrences of this character, Mr. 
Saur finally issued an explanatory preface, in which he showed 
what an almanac was, and what its proper uses and intents were. 
He excused himself as not blamable for any of the inaccuracies, 
as he was not properly the almanac maker. 

Christopher Saur died September 25, 175S. In those early 
days, it was not unusual for property owners to be buried upon 
their own land, and there are strong- reasons for believing that 
Mr. Saur and his wife were both buried a little m the rear of the 
present dwelling. 

Mr. Saur was succeeded in business by his son who bore 
the same name. Considerable confusion has arisen in conse- 
quence of this identity of names, many matters pertaining to the 
son having been erroneously ascribed to the father. It was the 
son who began to cast his own types, the moulds for which were 
made by the elder Fleckenstein. This was a little before the 
Revolution. It seems that he not only made them for his own 
use, but he must have also sold them to others, as the following 
notice from the Pcnnsylronia Ga::cttc, Feb. i, lyij, will show : 

"As Printing Types are now made to a considerable degree of per- 
fection by an ingenious artist in Germantown; it is recommended to the 
Printers to use such Types, in preference to any which niay be hereafter 
imported." 

Among the many important inventions of the second Chris- 
topher Saur were the janih stoves, which were greatly superior 
to the old-fashioned tire-places, then about the only means in use 



252 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

for warming dwellings. These were afterward improved upon, 
and led up to the invention of the "ten-plate" stove, which was 
capable of being used for cooking purposes, as well as for heat- 
ing the houses. 

At the time of the British occupation of Germantown, Mr. 
Saur had just completed the printing of an edition of the Bible. 
The unbound sheets were stored in the loft of the Dunker Meet- 
ing House, but the soldiers discovered them and scattered and 
destroyed the greater portion, using some for gun wadding and 
some for bedding for their horses. After the British left, a part 
of the sheets were recovered and bound. It is said that some 
of the pages bore the imprints of horses' hoofs. 

]\Ir. Saur was finally suspected of being disloyal to the 
cause of the colonies, and in 1778 his property, worth about 
£15,000, was confiscated and sold for about one-third of its 
value. He was treated with great cruelty by the soldiers who 
arrested him. being stripped of his clothing and otherwise mal- 
treated. So forlorn was his condition that Michael Keyser, 
moved by his sufferings, gave him a hat and coat, as well as 
the shoes which he took from his own feet. There does not 
appear to have been any evidence against him other than that, 
in accordance with his religious belief, he was opposed to war, 
and was known as an earnest advocate of peace principles. It 
is probable that his influence as a preacher and leader of his 
people caused his case to be regarded more seriously than it 
otherwise would have been. He never recovered from the 
financial disaster wrought by the war, and he died in poverty, 
August 26, 1784. Some of his children became printers, and his 
descendants have ever shown a decided predilection for the 
printing business. The Sowers of the noted Philadelphia pub- 
lishing house of that name are lineal descendants of the great 
pioneer printer of Germantown. 

The old dwelling of the Saurs came into the possession of 
Charles J. Wister many years ago. He remodeled it, but did not 
take down the walls because of their substantial character. At 
one time "Squire" Baynton lived in the house. About i860. Dr. 
Owen J. Wister, who then owned it, tore down the old building 
and erected the present mansion on its site. In 1876 it belonged 
to Moses Brown. Jr. At a later period it was owned by Robert 
Pearsoll Smith. The present owner is T. Wistar Brown. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 253 

QUEEN LANE 

West from No. 5300. This was originally known as the 
"Cross Street." (See note on Market Square.) It has also at 
various times been known as Bowman's Lane, Riter's Lane, 
and Indian Queen Lane. On a map published by Lindsay and 
Blakiston in 1852, it is called Falls Lane. A deed dated April 
21, 1837, mentions "Bowman's Lane, now commonly called Whit- 
tell's Lane." (Deed Book R. L. L., No. 5^, p. 620.) 

"SMEARSBURG" 

In former days, the lower part of Germantown was collo- 
quially known as "Smearsburg." The origin of the name is not 
certainly known. It may be that one of the following accounts is 
correct. One statement is that about 1840, Harry Endt, a 
coachmaker, was walking along Manheim Street, and near the 
old pump, he came across several women engaged in a fierce 
wrangle. He made the remark, "This is a regular Smearsburg." 

Christian Kinzel, who lived in this neighborhood for about 
fifty years, claimed that the name had a much earlier origin. 
His statement is to the effect that, in the early days, the people 
of this part of the town were somewhat better oft' in this world's 
goods than were the residents of the upper part, so the "down- 
towners" called the upper part of the town "Beggarstown." The 
"up-towners," in retaliation, called the lower part of the town 
"Smearsburg," the term conveying the idea of a dirty, greasy 
town ; "wagon-smear." for instance, refers to the dirty, impure 
stufif used for greasing wagons. 

Although the name must have been in quite common use 
at one time, yet it is doubtful if many of those who used it 
knew much if anything about its origin. Dr. George H. Cox, 
who was brought up as a boy in the neighborhood, says, "I 
never heard anything about the origin of the name Smearsburg. 
There used to be an old iron cannon that for a long time was 
stored in the yard at the General Wayne Hotel. It was known 
as the Smearsburg Artillery. There was no regular organiza- 
tion of this name, however. The gun was used for a great many 
years in firing salutes on Washington's Birthday, and on the 
Fourth of July, at which time a collection was taken up to fur- 
nish funds for the purchase of powder and flannel for making 



254 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

cartridges. The salutes were generally fired very early in the 
morning. It was a great thing for the boys to be up in time to 
see the cannon fired. I remember that on one Fourth of July, 
my brother Bellangee, Charley Bringhurst, (he of the Fort 
Sumpter garrison of 1861), and myself, slipped out from home 
and staid up all night in order not to miss the fun. The prin- 
cipal gunners were Nathan Thomas, Henry Endt, Ed. Dice and 
William Corwell. 

I have frequently heard those old gunners say that the 
boundaries of Smearsburg were all below Bringhurst Street and 
Queen Lane. I think they made it a rule to avoid asking pow- 
der subscriptions from persons living above those lines. Fisher's 
Hollow was excluded. The lower boundary was the turnpike 
bridge." 

There are few persons so well acquainted with the early 
history of Germantown as Charles J. Wister. Not only has he 
done much in the way of preserving the old traditions of the 
place, but he has also been instrumental in saving from destruc- 
tion and consequent oblivion many of the old landmarks and 
relics of the past, which, on account of their associations, are 
of almost priceless value. Naturally of a retiring disposition, 
and not fond of publicity, he is, withal, a charming conversa- 
tionalist, and it is a rare pleasure to listen to his reminiscences 
of the past, especially those which relate to the vicinity of Queen 
Lane, in which immediate neighborhood he has spent most of 
his life. 

He relates the following anecdote about Dr. Bensell. who 
once lived at the corner of School House Lane, and in his 
profession was one of the foremost men of his day: 

"When I was a boy, the building on the southwest corner of Indian 
Queen Lane was a tavern called the 'Indian Queen.' The Lane led to 
the Schuj'lkill Ferry. My father used to tell the following story about 
Dr. George Bensell— him who married Miss Robeson, of Wissahickon, 
and who was the father of Ned Bensell. On one occasion the Doctor 
started to visit a patient who lived out some distance on the Lane. He 
was accustomed to make most of his professional visits on horseback, 
and in this instance he rode down Main Street, when, upon turning into 
Indian Queen Lane, he was dismayed to see a bull rapidly approaching 
him in what appeared to be a very threatening manner. Now from child- 
hood the Doctor had been particularly afraid of bulls, and the sight of 
this one caused him to become terribly frightened. Wheeling his horse 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMAKTOWN 255 

rapidly around he prepared for flight, but seeing the door of the Indian 
Queen open, he dashed through it and rode through the hall to the back 
of the house. Imagine his extreme discomfiture, as he emerged from 
the back door, to see the dreaded animal entering the side gate. He 
hecame almost panic stricken. The stable men, however, were soon 
able to drive the beast out into the road, to the Doctor's very great 
relief, when a calmer investigation revealed the fact that it was only 
the poor old stray cow of a neighbor that had stirred up all the com- 
motion. 

"In my earlier years," said Mr. Wister, "the snow storms were much 
more severe than those we have now. Sometimes the great drifts 
entirely covered the fences. I remember hearing my father say that 
on one occasion he had to lead our horse through the house in order 
to get him out on the road. People who lived in the back part of the 
town were sometimes snowed up for weeks. There was an old lady 
that we used to call 'Mammy Kepley,' living back on the Lane just this 
side of the township line. She was very poor, and during a severe 
winter was almost entirely dependent upon the charity of her neigh- 
TDors. Once after a deep snow, my brother, William Wynne Wister, 
mounted his horse and took a basket of provisions to her. When he 
reached her house he found it entirely snowed up, and she was without 
anything to eat. What mysterious influence or power could have turned 
liis thoughts in that particular direction just at the time of greatest 
need? Could it have been solely mere chance or accident?" 

PARSONAGE OF TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 

No. 5300. This house, as well as the adjoining church, 
stands upon part of "lot No. 6 towards Schtiylkill," which was 
drawn in the name of John Blickers. By 1766 the original lot 
had been divided, as several owners are then recorded, but the 
second Christopher Saur was the owner of this part of it. Ac- 
cording to an old draft by Christian Lehman, dated 1745, the 
lot was owned by George Arnald after Herman Tunen. Shoe- 
maker states that the property belonged to the estate of Joseph 
Bullock in 1809. The date of the erection of the house is uncer- 
tain, but it is known to have been remodeled by Dr Bullock, 
a son of Joseph Bullock. "Squire" Baynton lived here before 
he removed to No. 5208 (4630). 

It was in the cellar of this house that the first type ever 
made in America was cast about 1772 or 1773, according to the 
statement of Dr. Julius F. Sachse, who has thoroughly inves- 
tigated the matter. It has been stated that this event occttrred 
in 1743, and that the domestic type was used on the Saur Bible 
which was issued in that year, but Dr. Sachse is satisfied that this 
statement is incorrect. He says the venture in type making 
w^as made by the sons of the second Christopher Saur, and that 



256 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

Alexander Mack was interested in the enterprise. The proof 
of this statement is furnished by Alexander Mack himself. He 
composed a poem of a hundred stanzas upon the occasion, and 
it was printed in "Gcistlichcs Magasien," Vol. II, Xo. 12. At the 
close of the poem there is a foot-note which reads : "Printed 
with the first type ever cast in America." A copy of this issue 
is now in the possession of Dr. Sachse. In the course of his in- 
vestigation, Dr. Sachse states that he found evidences in the 
cellar that it had been used as a place for making type. He also 
disputes the statement that any part of the hand mould used in 
the manufacture of the type could possibly have been swedged 
on a blacksmith's anvil, as the parts are all very delicate. One 
of these moulds is in the collection of Mr. Samuel Alacmeney, 
of Philadelphia. 




L^jip..^ 






(ORIGINAL BUILDING.) 



TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 

Trinity Lutheran Church is an offshoot of St. Alichael's 
Lutheran Church, at Germantown Avenue and Phil-Ellena 
Streets, Mt. Airy. It was established in 1836. The first ser- 
vices were held in the old portion of the brick house at the corner 
of Germantown Avenue and Church Lane, which is now occu- 
pied by the AVomen's Christian Association. The early pastors 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 257 

were Rev. William X. Scholl, Rev. S. M. Finckel, and Rev. Wil- 
liam E. Eyster. Rev. Dr. Luther E. Albert succeeded to the 
pastorate in the autumn of 1851, this being his first and only 
parish. 

The same year that the church was organized, the lot at the 
corner of Queen Lane was purchased of William Wynne Wister 
for $3000, and preparations were immediately made for the erec- 
tion of a church building. The corner-stone was laid May 15, 
1837, and the dedication took place Dec. 31. 1837. The cost of 
the building was $2699.68. This first church building stood in 
the rear of the grounds near the sawmill. The corner-stone of 
the present edifice was laid October 11, 1856, and the building 
was dedicated October 12, 1857. The original debt upon it was 
entirely discharged in 1865. Various minor improvements were 
subsequently made to the church property, and m 1886 the whole 
interior of the building was remodeled at a cost of $14,000. The 
clock in the steeple was put in position in 1858 or 1859, and, being 
the first of the kind in Germantown, was considered a great in- 
novation. 

Rev. Dr. Luther E. Albert, pastor emeritus, was born in 
1828. He graduated from the Pennsylvania College at Gettys- 
burg, in 1847, and after spending two years in the Theological 
Seminary at that place was ordained as a preacher. He assisted 
his father, who had a pastorate at Centreville, Pa., until Xovem- 
ber, 1851, when he was called to the pastorate of this church. 
Gettysburg College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of 
Divinity about thirty years ago. At that time he was considered 
one of the most scholarly ministers of the Lutheran denomina- 
tion in this country. 

Henry Goodman, the father-in-law of Dr. Albert, was one 
of the first vestrymen of Trinity Church, and was superintendent 
of its Sunday-school for thirty-five years. The large stone cross, 
an imposing monolith about twenty-five feet in height, which 
stands in the graveyard in front of the church, marks the resting 
place of Henry Goodman and his wife. The present pastor of 
the church is Rev. Luther De Yoe. 

No. 5310. (Old number, 4666.) This stands upon the site 
of the Fox homestead, on what was originally lot No. 6. In 1766 
it belonged to Justus Fox, and in 1809 to Emanuel Fox, who was 
a manufacturer of lampblack. In reference to this, Shoemaker 



258 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

says, "This product was so fine that 'Germantown lampblack' is 
the title bestowed on that of the highest quality still." The busi- 
ness was continued by his son George. Part of their land is in- 
cluded in the tract that now belongs to Trinity Lutheran Church. 

Emanuel Fox married Anna Margaretta, the youngest 
daughter of Alexander JMack, the Dunker preacher, July 22, 
1784. A daughter of this union married Peter Rittenhouse. 

The present building belongs to Jacob M. West. Along the 
wall that now separates his place from the Lutheran graveyard 
is a slight depression in the ground that marks the site of an old 
well that belonged to the Fox property. 

WISTER HOMESTEAD ("GRUMBLETHORPE") 

No. 5261. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4661). 
Probably no residence in Germantown has more of interest con- 
nected with it than this substantial old stone mansion that was 
built by John Wister in 1744 as a summer residence. 

The extensive families of the JVistars and the Wistcrs 
trace their origin to Hans Caspar and Anna Katerina Wister 
(Wuster), of Hillspach, near Heidelburg, Germany. The Wis- 
tars are descended from Caspar, the oldest son of this couple, 
who was born in 1696 and came to America in 1717. In emi- 
grating to this country he abandoned his right of succession to 
the hereditary office of forester. He was naturalized as a sub- 
ject of the King of Great Britain by special act of the Pennsyl- 
vania Assembly, passed May 9, 1724. (See Colonial Records, iii, 

P- -'35-) 

He had no intention of changing his name, but through 
the error of a clerk his papers were made out in the name of 
Wistar, and his holdings of property were thus recorded. The 
Wisters are descended from the second son, John, who came to 
America in 1727. In the "old country" the family name had 
taken the form of Wister, and John retained this spelling. Many • 
have wondered at the tenacity of the two branches of the family 
in regard to the exact spelling of their names, but it will easily 
be comprehended that as Caspar acquired property under the 
name of Wistar, and John under the name of Wistrr, it seemed 
important to retain this orthography on account of possible 
legal difficulties connected with the transfer of property. Thus, 
this whole matter, which has excited considerable curiosity, was 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



259 



not the doing of the parties themselves, but originated solely in 
the mistake of a clerk. 

It was this second son, John, who built the "Big House." 
He died in 1789, leaving two sons, Daniel and John. Daniel's 




son, Charles Jones Wister, resided here for many years, having 
made it his permanent residence about 1812. He died in 1865, 
in his eighty-fourth year. His son. Charles J. Wister. is the 
present owner and occupant of the house. Although advanced 
in years, Mr. Wister still retains a lively interest in the affairs 



26o 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



of Germantown, and has done much in the way of preserving 
the recollections and traditions of its earlier history. He is the 
honored president of the Site and Relic Society. 

Although the external appearance of the old mansion has 
been materially altered by the removal of the pent-roof and bal- 
cony, yet Mr. Wister has taken care to retain the essential feat- 




CHARLES J. WISTER, SR. 



ures of the interior. The old-fashioned fire-places, the strong 
doors Avith their heavy hinges and massive locks, still remain. 
The same old barn and the old-fashioned garden have been re- 
tained. The place was named "Grumblethorpe" by the first 
Charles J. Wister. If the old walls could speak, what strange 
tales would they tell of the people and scenes upon which they 
have looked. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



261 




CHARLES J. WISTER, JR. 

During the time of the British occupation, in 1777, General 
Agnew took up his residence here, and after receiving his fatal 
wound in the battle he was borne back to this house, where he 
died in the north parlor. Stains made by his blood may still be 
seen upon the floor, although some of the stained boards were 
removed bv order of Mr. Wister's grandmother. 



262 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

At one time the Wister house was rented to John Lukens, 
who had been Surveyor-General under the crown, and here, in 
T779, his daughter Tacy was married to Major Lenox, of the 
Philadelphia Light Horse, now the First City Troop. The 
marriage took place in the same parlor where poor Agnew died. 
A circle in the decoration of the ceiling is immediately over 
the spot where the bride and groom stood. William Wister, the 
father of William Rotch Wister, was married on the same spot. 

On the 4th of October, 1779, while sitting at dinner, word 
was brought "to Major Lenox of the attack on Fort Wilson, at 
Third and Walnut Streets. (For a full account of this affair, see 
Penna. Mag.. J^oL 2, p. 392.) Major Lenox at once hurried into 
the city and succeeded in dispersing the mob without the shed- 
ding of blood. He then returned to Germantown, under the 
belief that he was so far removed from the scene of the disturb- 
ance as to be out of danger ; but a night or two afterward a mob 
surrounded the Wister house and demanded his surrender. He 
temporized with the mob and endeavored to have them wait 
until daylight. In the meantime, his cousin, IMiss Sallie Kean, 
a great aunt of the late Thomas W. Evans, left the house at the 
rear, and hastening across the fields soon gained the main road. 
She then made all possible speed to the residence of Captain 
Samuel Morris, who commanded the City Troop. That officer 
at once sent a detachment to the assistance of Major Lenox, and 
the crowd dispersed. 

Standing in the hallway of the Wister residence is a very 
interesting relic of the days of the Revolution. It is a wooden 
figure of a British grenadier, nearly life size. Connected with 
it is an amusing story which is told in a very sprightly way 
by Sally Wister in her Journal. 

The family had spent the summer of 1777 at their country 
home (opposite Queen Lane) in Germantown, and in the fall 
returned to their city residence at No. 325 ]\Iarket Street. A little 
later they removed to the Foulke residence at North Wales 
(near the present Penllyn Station on the Reading Railroad, on 
a gentle elevation east of Wissahickon Creek.) The American 
army was encamped near by, and the family became acquainted 
with a number of the officers. One of these was a Major Tilley, 
who on account of his extreme bashfulness furnished consider- 
able amusement for the young ladies. He appears to have been, 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMAXTOJVN 263 

on the whole, rather an excellent kind of a fellow, but the ladies 
thought it would be rare fun to play a practical joke upon him. 
Another officer, Major Stodard, seems to have been the one who 
suggested to the girls the idea of playing the joke on Tilley, and 
he at first wanted them to place the figure in Tilley 's bed room. 
The plan was changed after some consultation. But it is best 
to have Miss Wister tell the story in her own way : 

"Dec. 12, 1777. 

"We had brought some weeks ago a British grenadier from Uncle 
Miles' on purpose to divert us. It is remarkably well executed, six feet 
high and makes a martial appearance. This we agreed to stand at the 
door that opens into the road (the house has four rooms on a floor 
with a wide entry running through), with another figure (a Turk) that 
would add to the deceit. One of our servants was to stand behind them, 
others were to serve as occasion offered. In the beginning of the 
event I went to Liddy (Lydia Foulke) and begged her to secure the 

swords and pistols that were in the parlor Liddy went in and 

brought her apron full of swords and pistols. When this was done, 
Stodard joined the officers. We girls went and stood at the first land- 
ing of the stairs. The gentlemen were very merry and chatting upon 
public affairs, when Seaton's negro (observe that Seaton being apprized 
of the scheme was indisposed) opened the door, candle in hand, and 
said, 'There's somebody at the door that wishes to see you.' 'Who? 
All of us?' said Tilley. 'Yes, sir,' said the boy. They all arose and 
Vi'alked into the entry, Tilley first. The first object that he saw was 
a British soldier. Then a thundering voice said — 'Is there any rebel 
officers here?' Tilley darted like lightning out at the front door, through 
the yard and over the fence. Swamps, fences, thorn-hedges and ploughed 
fields no way Impeded his retreat. He was soon out of hearing. The 
woods echoed with 'Which way did he go? Stop him! Surround the 

house!' We females ran down stairs to join in the general laugh 

There sat poor Stodard (whose sore lips must have received no advan- 
tage from this) almost convulsed with laughing, rolling in an arm chair. 
He said nothing; I believe that he could not have spoke. 'Major Stod- 
ard,' said I, 'go to call Tilley back. He will lose himself. — indeed he 
will;' every word interrupted with a 'Ha! ha!' At last he rose, and 
went to the door; and what a loud voice could avail in bringing him 
back, he tried. Figure to thyself this Tilley, of a snowy evening, no 
hat, shoes down at the heel, hair unty'd, flying across meadows, creeks, 
and mud-holes. Flying from what? Why, a bit of painted wood. 

"After awhile, we being in more composure, and our bursts of 
laughter less frequent, — in full assembly of girls and officers, — Tilley 
entered. The greatest part of my risibility turned to pity. Inexpres- 
sible confusion had taken entire possession of his countenance, his 
fine hair hanging dishevelled down his shoulders, all splashed with 
mud; yet his bright confusion and race had not divested him of his 
beauty. He smiled as he tripped up the steps; but 'twas vexation 
placed it on his features. Joy at that moment was banished from his 
heart. He briskly walked five or six steps, then stopped and took a 



264 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

general survey of us all. 'Where have you been, Mr. Tilley?' asked 
one officer. (We girls were silent.) 'I really imagined,' said Major 
Stodard, 'that you were gone for your pistols. I followed you to prevent 
danger,' — an excessive laugh at each question which it was impossible 
to restrain. 'Pray, where were your pistols, Tilley?' He broke his 
silence by the following expression: 'You may all go to the D — 1.' I 
never heard him utter an indecent expression before. At last his good 
nature gained a complete ascendance over his anger and he joined 
heartily in the laugh. I will do him the justice to say that he bore it 
charmingly. No cowardly threats, no vengeance denounced." 

It is reasonably certain that this figure of a British soldier 
was painted by Major Andre. The old Southwark Theatre, 
which was situated at the corner of Cedar (South) and Apollo 
streets, was closed by a resolution of Congress in September, 
1774, but when the British occupied the city it was reopened by 
them. Tickets of admission were sold and the proceeds devoted 
to the relief of the widows and orphans of soldiers. The scenery 
was painted almost entirely by Major Andre and Captain De- 
laney. The curtain representing a waterfall was painted by 
Major Andre, and remained in use until the burning of the the- 
atre, May 9, 1823. A wooden figure of a Hessian soldier that 
stood outside the door to answer the purpose of an advertising 
poster, was also painted by Major Andre ; it is this figure that is 
now owned by Mr. Wister, and the same one referred to by Miss 
Sally Wister in connection with the practical joke played upon 
Major Tilley. 

Another interesting relic in the possession of Mr. Wister is 
the weathercock that formerly surmounted the original German 
Reformed Church on Market Square. At the time of the Indian 
troubles in 1764, when the "Paxton Boys" were marching to 
Philadelphia, intent upon taking the lives of the Indians who 
had fled to the protection of their Quaker friends, they halted 
for a time in Market Square. While there they amused them- 
selves by shooting at the weather vane of the old church. The 
numerous patches by which the bullet holes have been covered 
still furnish evidence of the accuracy of their marksmanship. 
At the same time that he secured the weathercock, Mr. Wister 
purchased the bell of the old church. For nearly a century it 
was the only church bell in Germantown. It bears the date of 
1725, and the inscription, "Gott allcin die Bhrc/' ("To God alone 
the honor"). After retaining possession of the bell for a number 
of years, Mr. Wister gave it to the Market Square Church on 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 265 

condition that it should never be altered, and that it should 
always be placed in a prominent position in the church. 

In his early days Air. Wister was very fond of athletic sports ; 
he was especially noted for his skill as a skater, and his fancy 
skating was sure to attract a large crowd whenever he made his 
appearance on the ice at Harper's Dam. He also had consider- 
able merit as an artist, and his home contains a large number of 
sketches and paintings of old Germantown buildings that have 
long ago disappeared. 

No. 5267. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4665.) 
In 1809 Anthony Gilbert, a blacksmith, lived here. He was 
noted for his remarkable strength. Shoemaker speaks of his 
having killed a man named Rittenhouse, at Bayer's race course, 
with a tent pole. He died in 1817. His son Charles resided here 
after his father's death. 

FRY HOUSE 

No. 5273. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4667.) 
Townsend Ward says, "An antiquated, low building, now de- 
molished, formerly occupied this lot." A portion of this old 
building is rather imperfectly shown in the engraving of the 
\\'ister Homestead. (See also Pcnna. Mag., Vol. V., p. 383.) 

The first deed of record for this property Vv'as given June 7, 
1683, by Benjamin Furly, agent for the Frankfort Company,, to 
Abraham Tunis. It formed a part of a tract of two hundred 
acres granted by this deed. The tract was known as "lot No. 7 
towards Bristol," and extended from the lower line of the Wister 
property to about Penn Street, and from Main Street to Town- 
ship Line. (Deed Book B, Vol. 3, p. 82.) 

March 3, 1701, Abraham Tunis sold 50 acres of the tract to 
Isaac Shoemaker. (Acknowledged in Germantown September 
15, 1702.) 

October 21, 1702, Isaac Shoemaker sold the 50 acres to Jacob 
Gottschalk. (Acknowledged in Germantown June 13, 1704.) 

Jacob Gottschalk arrived in Germantown in 1702. He Avas a 
minister of the Mennonites. and it is believed that he occupied 
the little house mentioned while he lived in Germantown. He 
was still living in Germantown in 1708, and at that time was serv- 
ing the Mennonite congregation at Skippack. On the 3d of Sep- 



266 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

tember in that year he joined with his brethren in a letter to their 
friends in Amsterdam, requesting their brethren in Europe to 
send them some catechisms, besides psahii books and Bibles, as 
there was but one copy of the Bible in their whole membership. 
His name appears among the sixteen ministers who served Skip- 
pack, Conestoga, Great Swamp, Manatany and Germantown in 
1727. 

Tune 15, 1714, Jacob Gottschalk sold the property to Richard 
Lewis. He died possessed of 22^ acres, and his only son and heir, 
James Lewis, sold the property to Thomas Hood, April 3, 1729. 
(Deed Book E. F., No. 21, p. 336.) 

January 6, 1730, Thomas Hood sold the property to John 
Henry Kalkglaser. (Deed Book E. F., No. 21, p. 559.; 

January 19, 1730, John Henry Kalkglaser sold the place to 
John Bartholomew. (Deed Book E. F., No. 21, p. 342.) 

April 21, 1743, John Bartholomew sold the property to John 
Fry (Frey), a tinsmith and brass founder. 

In 1766 the original lot of 200 acres was owned by John 
Wister, George Heyer, John Fry, Michael Eges and others. Fry's 
portion was the 22^ acres which had been owned by Jacob Gott- 
schalk. 

Johannes Fry or Frey came from Germany at a very early 
date. He died in 1765, and July 8, 1768, John Fry. his eldest son, 
and Eve, his wife, sold the property to Gotlieb Fry, a tinsmith. 
John Fry kept a store at the west corner of Penn and Main 
streets, and another brother, Jacob, kept a store where the build- 
mg of the Germantown Trust Company now stands. They had 
an extensive trade with farmers. 

The old house was occupied by four generations of the Fry 
family, and it was popularly known as the "Fry House." In his 
notes on the tax list of 1809, Shoemaker says: "Rachel Fry's 
house stood where No. 4667 now is." He thinks William Fry, 
a coachmaker, who lived at the same address, was probably a 
son of Rachel Fry. 

There was a Heinrich Frey who came to Philadelphia before 
the landing of Penn. (Exemplification Records, Vol. i, p. 61.) 
Heinrich Frey and Joseph Blattenback were the first German 
emigrants who came to Pennsylvania. They emigrated in 1680 
and settled in Philadelphia. (Hallische Nachrichten.) (See Cas- 
sel's "History of the Mennonites," p. 65.) 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 267 

The original family name of Frey has been transformed into 
Fry. The house which now stands upon the site of the old dwell- 
ing of the Frys was built by Emlen Pleasant. 

BANK OF GERMANTOWN AND HOME OF JOHN FAN- 
NING WATSON 

Nos. 5275-77. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, Nos. 4669- 
71.) This house is particularly noted for having long been 
the home of John Fanning Watson, the historian, and it was 
here that by far the greater part of his literary work was done. 
He began to collect historical material about 1820. and in 1830 
he published the first edition of his "Annals of Philadelphia." 
The work was revised and republished in 1842, and again in 1856. 
In 1879 Edwin S. Stuart republished it in excellent style, and 
added a third volume, which was edited by Willis P. Hazard, a 
writer well known on account of his contributions to the local 
history of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. 

This great work of Watson's life is a marvel of patient, dili- 
gent and conscientious research. His researches in regard to 
Germantown possess especial value on account of his familiarity 
with the places about which he w^ote. 

Besides his labors as a historian, there is another work of Air. 
Watson's life that should receive more than passing notice. It 
is that of erecting, at his own expense, suitable memorial stones 
over the graves of some who fell in the battle of Germantown — in 
the Lower Burying Ground, one to mark the resting place of two 
British officers, General Agnew and Lieutenant Colonel Bird, 
and in the Upper Burying Ground one over the remains of Major 
Irvine and eight other Americans who fell in the battle. 

Full accounts of these are given in connection with the his- 
tory of these two burial grounds. 

The large heart of the man is manifest in his treatment of 
friend and foe alike. 

In addition to the monuments mentioned, Mr. Watson was 
largely instrumental in having erected a monument over the re- 
mains of General Nash and others in the Mennonite Burying 
Ground at Kulpsville. (Sec account given in JVai son's Annals, J^ol. 
[I, pp. 3p-6o.) 

The inscriptions on this monument are as follows : 



268 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

SOUTH SIDE. 

"Erected by citizens of Germantown and 

Norristown in 1844." 

WEST SIDE. 

"Vota via mea Pro Patria. 
In memory of Gen. Nash, of North Carolina, 
mortally wounded in the Battle of Germantown. 
Interred October, 1777, in the presence of the 

army near here encamped." 

NORTH SIDE. 
"Honor the brave." 

J. F. W. 

EAST SIDE. 
"Per acuta belli. 
In memory of Col. Boyd, Major White, of Philadelphia; 
Lieutenant Smith, of Virginia, American officers 
wounded in the Battle of Germantown, and interred 
side by side in the order above named, southward 
from Gen. Nash." 

When the Bank of Germantown was organized, in 1814, I\Ir. 
Watson was elected cashier. At that time it occupied the build- 
ing at what would now be No. 5504 Germantown Avenue. The 
tipper end of the present bank building stands upon the site. It 
was removed to what is now Nos. 5275-77 in 1825 and continued 
here until 1868. Mr. Watson occupied the rear and upper portion 
of the building as his residence. He held the oflfi.ce of cashier until 
1847, when he resigned to accept the position of secretary and 
treasurer of the Germantown and Xorristown Railroad Com- 
pany. He resigned this position in 1859, for the reason that he 
•did not wish to hold any office after his eightieth year. He died 
December 22,, i860, in his eighty-second year. An evidence of 
the remarkable preservation of his physical powers until a late 
period in life is shown in a letter of his, dated April 30, i860, to 
Mr. Abraham H. Cassel, of Harleysville, and which ]\Ir. Cassel 
still has in his possession. In this letter Mr. Watson says : 

"I write this without glasses, although pass'd four score." 

In speaking of this building during the Revolution, Watson 
says : "The house in wdiich I now reside was once honored with 
the presence of Generals Washington, Knox and Greene, shortly 
after the battle of Germantown." 

At the time of the British occtipation a court-martial was 
held in the large parlor on the second floor. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 271 

A little later the house was occupied by William Gerhard de 
Braham, "His ]\Iajesty's Surveyor General of the District of 
North America." He was the author of the "American INIilitary 
Pocket Atlas,'' which was published in 1776. He had previously 
lived on the Old York Road, but during the later years of his life 
he made his residence in Germantown. He was evidently deeply 
impressed with the religious beliefs of the Friends, for although 
he never made any public profession of such opinions, yet he 
faithfully attended the meetings of the Friends, and conformed 
to their plainness of attire. His writings indicate that he was 
also considerably in sympathy with the spirit of mysticism, so 
prevalent around Germantown. On account of this he has fre- 
quently been spoken of as a "distinguished astronomer." He 
was buried in the Friends' Burying Ground. So great was his 
fear of being buried alive that he directed his friends to leave his 
grave open, and place a watch over it until it became certain that 
his body had begun to decay. 

In 1793, when Philadelphia suffered so terribly from an epi- 
demic of yellow fever, Washington and several members of his 
cabinet took up their residence in Germantown. Thomas Jeffer- 
son, Secretary of State, and Edmund Randolph, Attorney Gen- 
eral, resided in this house. 

Some time after this the place was purchased by an English- 
man named Richard Bayley. He had made a fortune in the East 
India trade, and after coming to Germantown he embarked in the 
enterprise of brewing ale for the East India market. The experi- 
ment proved a financial failure, and he sold the property to the 
Bank of Germantown, which soon afterward occupied the build- 
ing, as has been previously stated. 

Nos. 5281-83. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4677-) 
What is now the drug store of Lewis A. Treichler, belonged to 
the estate of William Folwell in 1809. About that time, and later, 
it was occupied by the Misses Donaldson. From 185 1 to 1857 it 
was the residence of ]\Ir. Francis Heyl, and for a short period 
afterward it was rented by Dr. R. H. Shoemaker, who altered it 
into two properties. Dr. Shoemaker afterward removed to Man- 
helm Street, where he lived for several years prior to his removal 
to Los Angeles, California. 

Rev. Dr. Francis Heyl gives the following interesting ac- 



272 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

count of this house and of several other matters in the vicinity 
of Penn Street: 

"In answer to your request it affords me great pleasure to give you 
from memory some details in regard to the house No. 5281 Germantown 
Avenue, and the immediate neighborhood. This house, and the one next 
above on the S. B. corner of Penn Street (Shoemaker's Lane), now occu- 
pied by the drug store, was orginally one double house, and remained 
such until alterations were made in 1877, by Mr. Treichler, with a 
view to open the store. The lower half was made into a separate dwell- 
ing, taking in the original front door and hallway. 

It was in the month of April, 1851, that I stood for the first time 
on the steps of this house which was to be my home for the next six 
years. My father, Mr. Francis Heyl, of Philadelphia, had rented the 
house from Mr. William Hacker, a merchant of Philadelphia, who re- 
sided in the city at Seventh and Pine Streets. The house, as I remem- 
ber it, was a double house, with a wide hall in the center leading to a 
porch at the back extending the whole width of the house. This porch 
opened on to a large, old-fashioned garden extending back some dis- 
tance, and separated from Penn Street by a board fence. The garden 
abounded in numerous shade and fruit trees, and contained two latticed 
summer houses such as were common in the gardens of that day. In 
the spring time the trees v/ere full of blossoms, and birds built their 
nests in the branches. A winding path led to the back part of the gar- 
den. There was no back building to the house, but in lieu thereof a 
low frame building stood on the lower side of the garden near the 
boundary fence, and a short distance from the house. It was known as 
the wash-house. The upper wing of the house on the corner of Penn 
Street, was evidently built some years before the lower wing, as the 
carved mantels and large open fire-places in the former indicated a 
very early date; the latter was more modern. In the front room of 
the lower floor of this wing was a low down grate for coal, and the room 
back of this contained a range and was used for the kitchen. Under 
the spout which ran from the roof on to the lower end of the porch, was 
placed a large hogshead to catch rain water. A hydrant stood near the 
entrance of the garden path on the paved way which extended the 
whole length of the porch. This house, some time in the twenties and 
previously, was the residence of Miss Mary Donaldson and her two 
nieces, Miss Sallie Donaldson and Miss Rosanna Roe. She was very 
hospitable, and often entertained her friends. Her favorite seat was 
in the corner of the front parlor vv^here she could look out of the side 
window into Shoemaker's Lane. Back of the garden was an enclosed 
field, the property of Mr. John Jay Smith, who a few years before had 
built for himself a substantial residence known as Ivy Lodge, just oppo- 
site on Penn Street. In 1851, Mr. Smith built upon the above mentioned 
field a cottage that is now occupied by Mr. Robert Morton. It was first 
occupied by Mr. Morton's mother, widow of Dr. Samuel George Morton, 
of Philadelphia, with her children. Below the house No. 5281 was the 
Bank of Germantown, embracing the three properties, 5279, 5277 and 
5275. Two of these, Nos. 5279 and 5277 were included in the residence 
of Mr. Samuel Harvey, Jr., the cashier of the Bank. No. 5275 was the 
office of the Bank. 

The northeast corner of Penn Street in Cottage Row was occupied 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOJVN 273 

by Mr. David Styer, a contractor. Opposite our house on the south- 
west corner of what was then Linden Street (now West Penn Street), 
was a property fronting on Main Street, and extending some distance 
in the rear on Linden Street, belonging to Mr. John Bunner, an old 
resident of Germantown. With him resided his daughter Susan, and 
his son John Bunner, who was a widower with several children. They 
kept a small confectionery store on the corner, and the portion of the 
house not occupied by them was rented to lodgers. The entrance to 
the rear was from a gateway on the lower side of the house. Next door 
below stood a two-story yellow rough-cast house with a garden in front, 
the property of Mr. Benjamin Lehman and occupied at that time by 
one of the Stadelmans. Just below were two good sized houses built 
of stone, and rough-cast, the plaster being cut into squares so as to 
represent stone. They had high steps in front. The first was occupied 
by the Dyce family, and afterward by George Livezey, the undertaker. 
George Fox, the owner of the properties, lived in the second one. His 
father, Emanuel Fox, had lived there before him, ajid conducted an 
establishment for the manufacture of lampblack which was celebrated 
for its excellent quality. His establishment was destroyed by fire. 
George Fox, the son, for many years performed the duties of sexton 
at Trinity Lutheran Church. The properties finally passed into the hands 
of the Lehman family. In March, 1851, the Rev. Dr. Albert, then a young 
man, was called to the pastorate of the Lutheran Church, and some time 
after his marriage took up his residence in the parsonage at the corner 
of Queen Lane. In 1856, the original church, a plain stone building, was 
replaced by the present edifice which was opened for Divine worship 
in 1857." 

EAST PENN STREET 

East from No. 5300. This was formerly called Shoemaker's 
Lane, as it was opened through the Shoemaker property. On 
Christian Lehman's map it is recorded as the road to Conrad 
Weaver's mill. On the deeds to this mill property the name is 
given as Conrad Weber. Weber's mill was situated on Mill 
Creek, or the Small Wingohocking, as it was sometimes called, 
just where it is crossed by Thorp's Lane. When Issacher Thorp 
established his print works there this portion of the road was 
named after him. 

This street forms the dividing line between lots 7 and 8 
"towards Bristol." Lot No. 7 included the Wister property and 
extended up to the line of Penn Street (Shoemaker's Lane.) It 
was drawn in the name of Abraham Tunis, and he sold it to 
Jacob Gottschalk. There appears to have been a readjustment 
of the line at the cross street, as the following extract from the 
Court Records shows : 

"The 22d of 2d month 1704. This Court sold to Haac (Isaac) Schu- 
macher the cross street between him and Jacob Gottschalk, before the 



274 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 



creek, and to a set line at Samuel Cart's (?) land, — 8 acres for 30 
shillings (?)."* 

The creek referred to was the Wingohocking. 

"COTTAGE ROW " 

Nos. 5301-13, This row of dwelHngs was bttilt upon a por- 
tion of "lot No. 8 towards Bristol," which was originally drawn 
in the names of Gerhard Heinrich (Hendricks) and David Sher- 
ges. The lot extended from Shoemaker's Lane (Penn Street) to 
near Church Lane, and from Main Street (Germantown Avenue) 
to the township line. The "Rock House," still standing, on Penn 







SHOEMAKER HOUSE (SITE OF "COTTAGE ROW") 

Street, just east of the railroad, was near the middle of the prop- 
ert}^ Isaac Shoemaker married Sarah, the daughter of Gerhard 
Hendricks, and after the death of the latter the property came 
into the possession of the Shoemakers and became known as 
"Shoemaker's Farm." 

The old "Shoemaker Mansion," which formerly stood about 
where Nos. 5301 and 5303 now stand, is believed to have been 
built by Isaac Shoemaker. For many years this old house was 
one of the landmarks of GermantOAvn. It was a long building, 



*These words are Indistinct in the original record. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 275 

constructed of stone, and two stories high. After the manner 
of the old country, the main entrance was from the rear, but 
there was also an entrance into the cellar, which gave the house 
the appearance of having three stories. Upon the death of Isaac 
Shoemaker, in 1732, the property passed to his son Benjamin. 
Benjamin Shoemaker was a man of considerable note. He was 
invited to a seat in the Provincial Council at the same time as 
James Hamilton. After considering nearly two months, he de- 
termined to accept, and was qualified February 4, 1745. He was 
Mayor of Philadelphia in 1743, 1752 and 1760. He also appears 
to have filled the office of City Treasurer from 175 1 until his 
death in 1761. His son Samuel married the widow of Francis 
Rawle, and upon the death of his father succeeded to the owner- 
ship of the homestead. He also succeeded his father in the offices 
of Treasurer and member of the Provincial Council. In 1769 and 
1 771 he was Mayor, and in 1771 and 1773 he served in the Assem- 
bly. He was Justice for the county from 1761 until the Revolu- 
tion. He was also a member of the American Philosophical So- 
ciety. Like most Friends, he disapproved of the Revolutionary 
War, and as a consecjuence his property was confiscated. He 
finally went to New York, where he was of great service to 
American prisoners during the war. Afterward he went to Eng- 
land, but returned in 1789 and got back a portion of his property 
which was secured to him by the treaty of 1783. He died in 
1800. 

When in England he had an interview with George III at 
Windsor, under guardianship of his friend, Benjamin West. The 
King asked him why the Province of Pennsylvania improved 
more than the neighboring provinces, some of which had been 
earlier settled. Samuel politely replied to this German King, 
"It was due to the Germans," and the King as politely answered 
that ''the improvement was principally due to the Quakers." The 
King was pleased that Samuel could speak German, and the 
Queen wept when he spoke of the death of his children, showing 
a warm heart. Samuel concluded that so kind a husband and so 
good a father as George III could not be a tyrant. 

Samuel's daughter married Robert Morris, son of the great 
financier of the Revolution, and their daughter, ]\Irs. AA^ilkins, 
with her whole family, were lost at sea while on their way from 
Savannah to take up their residence in the old Shoemaker ances- 



276 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

tral mansion. A few years subsequent to this the property was 
sold to George H. Thomson. 

The old house had, at various times, other occupants than 
members of the Shoemaker family. Just before the Revolution 
it was occupied by Samuel Burge. After the battle of German- 
town, the British made use of it for a hospital, which was under 
the charge of a Dr. Moore. It is said that every room was filled 
with his patients. In after years it was known as "the prison." 
For some years it was occupied by the De la Roche family. At 
one time it was occupied by the Misses Loraine, who had a school 
there, which in its day was very popular. One of the pupils of 
the school was Miss Maria McClelland, who was one of the first 
public school teachers in Germantown. She taught in a school 
that was opened in the Knox (First) Presbyterian Church, which 
stood where the building of the Young Men's Christian Associa- 
tion now stands. 

The old mansion was torn down about 1838 or 1840. at the 
time when "Cottage Row" was built. "Cottage Row" was the 
first "bonus" building operation in Germantown, and was under 
the management of a man named Husband. It is said that he 
had but little difficulty in selling ofif the houses. They were well 
built, and for a long time were referred to as a fashionable resi- 
dence section of Germatown. They have retained their indi- 
viduality during all these years, and break the continuity of busi- 
ness structures on that side of the street. 

THE "ROCK HOUSE " 

The old dwelling popularly known as the "Rock House," still 
standing on the north side of East Penn Street, just east of the 
Reading Railroad bridge, is believed to be one of the oldest build- 
ings in Germantown. It stands upon "lot No. 8 towards Bristol," 
which was drawn by Gerhard Heinrich (Hendricks). It has been 
thought that this house was erected by Hendricks in 1682, but 
this is doubtful. It is more probable that it was built for Isaac 
Shoemaker, who married Sarah, the daughter of Gerhard Hen- 
dricks, in 1690, and that the original Hendricks house was a some- 
what older structure. At all events, the present dwelling is cer- 
tainly more than two centuries old. The historian Watson, in 
writing to Samuel M. Shoemaker in 1842, says : "The original 
family house marked 1682 on its lintel was taken down two years 



278 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

ago by Mehl. It was at this house that Wilham Penn had stood 
at the door and preached. It was described as a very low house 
with a high roof; it was situated in a beautiful, natural meadow, 
and was so picturesque that I had a drawing taken of it." Town- 
send Ward says of this old house : "Its walls were of stone, one 
story high ; and straw, yet well preserved in 1835, had been mixed 
with the mortar used in their construction. The building had a 
very high, peaked roof — so high that it (the roof) occupied two 
stories and a loft." It will be readily understood that the house 
derives its name from the fact that it is built upon a high and 
solid rock. Through the beautiful meadow that formerly existed, 
and around the base of the rock, used to flow the Wingohocking 
Creek. At the time of the British occupation their cavalry pas- 
tured their horses in the meadow, which was then known as 
"Alehl's meadow." The huts of the soldiers were located upon 
the higher ground. 

An old resident of Germantown gives the following interest- 
ing facts relating to this property : "Some years ago there was 
a little one-story building about fourteen feet square that stood 
alongside of a barn, on the site of what is now Belfield Avenue. 
At that time the property belonged to Samuel H. Collom, and 
when it was proposed to put down the big sewer Mr. Collom 
thought it would be a shame to destroy the little one-story struc- 
ture in which AA^illiam Penn is said to have preached from time 
to time. Accordingly, Mr. Collom had both the old-time meeting 
house and the barn moved across the way to his ground, with 
the sole purpose of preserving them. The buildings remained in 
their new location for a little while, until the row of brick houses 
on Belfield Avenue was contemplated, when they were torn down 
to make room for the march of improvement. After they were 
razed some parties came forward and bewailed their destruction, 
saying that the destruction of the old house should not have been 
allowed, and stating that they would have had it moved and re- 
constructed in the Park to save it for future generations to look 
upon. It was too late. 

Previous to the Civil War this house was one of the most 
prominent stations of the so-called "underground railroad" in 
Pennsylvania. 

At one time a colored man named Moses Lewis and his wife 
occupied the "Rock House." His wife was a pretty mulatto 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 279 

woman, a runaway slave from the South. One day there ap- 
peared at the Lewis home a deputy United States Marshal with 
a requisition for Mrs. Lewis. Of course there was trouble, as 
Mrs. Lewis had three children, and they, too, came under the 
requisition of the slave owner's demands. Lewis protested, and 
threatened to fight for his wife and family. The neighbors soon 
became interested, and in a short time the good people of Ger- 
mantoAvn began to rally around Lewis and his family. With lit- 
tle effort, twelve hundred dollars were raised, the slave owner 
bought off, and the Lewis family was free. Some of the descend- 
ants of this family are living in Germantown to-day. 

On another occasion a very large family occupied the "Rock 
House." It would seem almost impossible to crowd twenty or 
more people into this old structure, but such was a fact. It came 
about in this way : A family named Smith, with twelve children, 
occupied the old house. j\Ir. Smith had a brother who lived in 
another part of the town, and this brother, also, had twelve chil- 
dren. One of the Smith brothers died, and the wife of the other 
Smith died shortly afterwards. There were twenty-four children 
in all to be cared for. The widower Smith and the widow Smith 
were married and they all moved into the "Rock House" with 
the exception of the older children, who were able to shift for 
themselves. While they were somewhat crowded, they all lived 
happily in the historical old structure for some years. 

Within the last two or three years the meadow has been 
filled in, and the rock upon which the house is built is now so 
nearly covered as to be scarcely discernible. 

No. 5320. (Old number, 4676.) The old house that for- 
merly stood upon this site was occupied in 1809 by AA'illiam Bun- 
ner, a carpenter. It was a low stone house and stood back from 
the street. AA^illiam Bunner's son John afterward built a small 
house in front of it. For a long time a large stone pile laid in 
the back part of his lot. In opening Linden Street it became 
necessary to remove this heap of stone, and in doing so a cannon 
ball was found almost in the center of the pile. It is thought 
that it was fired at the battle of Germantown. 

The hotel now standing upon the site was built when the 
Germantown Bank was situated on the opposite of the street 
below Penn Street. It was opened by George Hardy and kept by 



28o HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

him until his death, August 5th, 1884, under the name of the 
"Bank Hotel." 

WEST PENN STREET 

West from No. 5320. This was opened by Thomas Alagar- 
gee and was at first called Linden Street. 

No. 5321. In 1840 this was the residence of John and Thomas 
Roberts. It now belongs to Nathan Alarple. 

Nos. 5322-24. This property belonged to John Frey in 1809. 
In 1840 Charles Johnson lived in No. 5322, his store being at No. 
5324- 

No. 5329. Leonard Nutz, a tanner, resided here in 1809. His 
sons, John and William, continued the business after his death. 
The tannery extended all the way to what is now Coulter Street. 
The dwelling is now the residence of Nathan Marple, and a row 
of brick stores stands upon the site of the tan-yard. 

No. 5330. Luke Williams owned this property in 1840. It 
now belongs to Oliver Jester's estate. 

No. 5338. (Old number, 4714.) This is upon the site of 
what was once John Mushler's bakery. He was an old Ger- 
man who retained an intense love for his native land. Any of 
his fellow countrymen were always sure of a hearty welcome at 
his home, and he frecjuently entertained them, much to the dis- 
comfort of his family. In going his rounds he was accustomed 
to summon his customers by the aid of a tin horn. He was a 
great favorite with the children on account of the delicious honey 
cakes which he made. He was blind, and the children who came 
to his shop would frequently try to deceive him by hiding their 
money on the counter, but he never handed over the desired cake 
until he found the money. His son Jacob, familiarly known as 
"Jake" Mushier, succeeded him in business. 

In 1885 Patrick McGarrigle built his house and office upon 
the site. 

No. 5342. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4718.) 
This was once the residence of Captain John Stadelman, who 
commanded the "Germantown Blues" during the war of 1812. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 281 

John Kyle remodeled the place and changed it into a store. Cap- 
tain Stadelman also owned the place below (No. 5340). This 
was afterward owned by his son Augustus, who built the brick 
front to it. He was living there in 1840. 

"THE MARKET HOUSE" 

No. 5344. Now the Manheim Laundry. (Old number, 
4722.) The old building that formerly stood upon this site was 
occupied by William Sommer in 1840. It was a two-story house, 
partly frame and partly stone. In the yard was a never-failing 
spring that was a favorite stopping place for thirsty travelers. 

The market house was built some time between 1854 and 
i860 by a stock company, of which "Sciuire" Joseph King was one 
of the originators. The building had a brick floor and the spring 
mentioned was in the basement. Its cooling influence was used 
very much as in the old-fashioned spring houses, for the preser- 
vation of perishable articles. The stalls in the market were let 
out to farmers and butchers. It was usual for the farmers at 
that time to draw 'up their wagons in the tavern yards. The 
Washington Hotel was a favorite stopping place for them. Be- 
fore ice was so plentiful it was customary for butchers to sell 
their meats on Sunday mornings in the yard of the General 
Wayne Hotel. 

The market house proved a financial failure, as the butchers 
and hucksters would not rent the stalls. Only a very few of 
them were taken. Issacher T. Somer and George Mullen were 
two of the butchers who did rent stalls. After the failure, the 
place was fitted up as a comic theatre and was called the "Melo- 
deon." Popularly it was called the "Bull's Head Theatre," after 
the two bulls' heads that adorn the front of the building. The 
theatre did not succeed very well, and for several years the build- 
mg was vacant. Then George Wood, a stair builder, occupied it. 
Afterward the Lance Brothers converted it into a mat and oil- 
cloth factory. The spring in the cellar still remains. 

EAST COULTER STREET 

East from No. 5400. The houses of Joseph and Thomas 
Waterman stood where East Coulter Street now is. Thomas 
Waterman was living here in 1809. His house was once the resi- 
dence of John Book, a celebrated Quaker preacher. In 1840 



282 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



it was occupied by Thomas Silvers, a hatter. At that time an 
old German doctor used to make a short stay here every six 
months to attend to patients who lived in Germantown. 




SITE OF EAST COULTER STREET 

WEST COULTER STREET 

This was opened through the properties of John Bockius and 
Ann, the widow of John Coulter. In opening the street it be- 
came necessary to tear down an old house that was occupied at 
the time of the Revolution by a family named Woermer. It is 
said that Mrs. Woermer was making '^Fctt Kuchc" (fat cakes, or 
doughnuts) when a detachment of British soldiers went by, and 
there is a family tradition to the effect that the soldiers came into 
the house and helped themselves to the cakes by fishing them 
out of the fat with their bayonets. In 1850, this house was occu- 
pied by William Fullforth and James Sandiford, the latter occu- 
pying the rear portion. In the upper part of this building Wil- 
liam Fullforth and Charles Spencer began business. This was 
the beginning of the Leicester Mills. When excavations were 
being made for water pipes in 1902 the workmen uncovered the 
foundations of this old building. 

:|; ;|; A * ;|; * * 

We are indebted to Dr. William H. Trueman for the follow- 
ing interesting account of Coulter Street and its vicinity : 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 283 

THE SITE OF COULTER STREET IN 1846-47 

The land on the west side of Main Street, througli which Coulter 
Street now passes, was owned and farmed by the late Jesse Bockius. 
His holdings began at the lower boundary of the Orthodox Friends' 
Meeting House property, and extended to about one hundred feet below 
the present line of Coulter Street, extending back quite a distance and 
forming a fair sized farm. The family mansion, a well-preserved two- 
story stone house, fronted upon the Main Street at the upper boundary 
line. It was built in much the same style as the few original German- 
town houses now standing, having a wide front with the door in the 
middle. Below this, at an interval of some twenty or thirty feet, stood 
a much more ancient dwelling, at that time divided into two tenements; 
that fronting upon Main Street was occupied by William Fullforth; the 
part fronting upon Bockius's Alley (now Coulter Street) was the resi- 
dence of James Sandiford, a gardener in the employ of the Armat 
family; below this the land was vacant. The alley mentioned was the 
driveway to the farm buildings. At its end, about a hundred, or a hun- 
dred and fifty feet west of the Main Street, was another ancient stone 
and frame dwelling which was divided so as to accomodate two families. 
Opposite to it, on the lower side, Mr. Bockius had erected a two-story 
frame building in which he had installed a fulling mill and a set of 
mill-stones, the motive power being a small steam engine. At this time 
stocking making was an important industry in Germantown, all the 
work being done on the old-fashioned hand looms, which had undergone 
but little improvement since first invented by a poor English curate 
a century or more before. Many looms were located in the homes of 
the weavers, who either did business on their own account in a small 
way, or worked for some one with more capital, who, in addition to a 
few looms in his own shop, supplied these home workers with yarn, 
receiving at the end of each week the product of their labor. The out- 
put of each loom was quite small, as it was customary for such workmen 
to wind the yarn from the skein onto the bobbins from which it was 
taken by the loom. At times the whole family was employed, the 
children doing the winding and the wife the sewing which was done 
by hand. Fulling was a necessary process in preparing woolen stock- 
ings for the market. Those who made but few did their fulling in a 
hand machine, very much like a modern washing machine, in which 
the goods were rubbed between two corrugated surfaces by moving back 
and forth a heavy box suspended upon pivots. Others placed the goods 
in a keg-like tub which was shaped very much like an upright churn, 
and pounded them with a: heavy wooden paddle. In either case the 
work was very hard, and as but a small quantity of goods could be 
operated upon at one time, the process was a very slow one. Mr. 
Bockius was an ingenious mechanic and constructed a machine by which 
this fulling could be done by steam power. His mill proved an accept- 
able and useful help to the stocking manufacturers of Germantown, none 
of whom at this time had been accustomed to employ any other than 
hand power. After a few years, finding that he still had steam power 
to spare, he added to his plant a circular saw for re-sawing lumber used 
in house building, constructing the necessary machinery from draw- 
ings in Smith's "Panorama of the Arts and Sciences," a book loaned to 
him by Mr. William Trueman, a stocking weaver, who was one of his 



284 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOWN 



tenants. At that time lumber was not sent to market in m.any con- 
venient forms for the house-builder's use as at present, and much of a 
carpenter's time was spent in sawing and planing. Mr. Bocl^ius pro- 
posed to assist the workman by relieving him of this very laborious 
part of the work, by sawing the planks and boards to the required sizes, 
and also by taking off the rough surface by means of a planing machine. 
At first the workmen did not appreciate this, claiming that he was tak- 
ing the bread and butter out of their mouths by his labor-saving ma- 
chinery. His reply was that in a very short time they would refuse 
to work for any one who required them to do such slavish work; but 
this reply, prophetic as it was, failed to satisfy them. Threats of burn- 
ing the place were made, and to prevent this the property was patrolled 




CIRCULAR SAW USED BY BOCKIUS 



for many nights by Mr. Bockius, assisted by his friends and neighbors. 
Fortunately, Germantown was on the eve of a building boom. Farms 
were being divided into building lots, new streets were being opened, 
and many were becoming ambitious of owning their own homes. The 
carpenters had plenty to do and were glad to accept the products of 
the new planing mill. Mr. Bockius finally gave up farming and devoted 
all his time to these new lines of business. One of his larger barns 
he moved to the Main Street, and placing it on the side of the alley 
. opposite to Mr. Fullforth's house, furnished it with a brick front, lathed 
and plastered the rest of its exterior and converted it into a very 
respectable looking dwelling. It served for this purpose a little more 
than half a century, few suspecting that it had once been a barn. An- 
other smaller barn was moved so as to front on the alley, and for 
many years it made a comfoi'table home. Just back of the mill John 
Caldwell established his carpenter shop, and there began what has 
proved a prosperous business careeer. 

"Mr. Fullforth was a stocking weaver and used one of the back 
rooms of his house as a shop. He was sufficiently prosperous to employ 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



285 



several journeymen who had their looms in his shop. He married a 
sister of the late Charles Spencer, who a few years previously came 
from England with his father. In England Mr. Spencer had been a 
schoolmaster, but on coming to this country he entered the service of 
a mercantile firm in Philadelphia. With this firm he not only learned 
business habits and methods, but his aptness, his close attention to 
business details, and his gentlemanly depor^^ment won for him many 
firm friends. He entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. 
Fullforth, and was ambitious to put the business of stocking making 
upon a more profitable basis. The little back room soon became too 




CHARLES SPENCER 



small, and they moved to a larger room over the hall of the "Sons of 
Temperance," on Mill Street (Church Lane). Mr. Spencer proved too 
progressive for Mr. Fullforth and the partnership was soon dissolved. 
The small industry transplanted from the little room in the house at 
Bockius" Lane and Main Street, through the business ability of Mr. 
Spencer became in the course of time a very large and important busi- 
ness concern. Jesse Bockius deserves great credit for introducing into 
Germantown the use of steam power in manufacturing stockings, for 
although fulling was only part of the process, it was an important one, 
and his fulling mill was the first step towards substituting, in this im- 
portant industry, the power of the steam engine for that furnished by 
human muscles. 



286 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOWN 



"Mr. Bockius was undoubtedly the pioneer, in Germantown, in intro- 
ducing labor-saving machinery for preparing lumber for house building. 
From both of these industries Germantown has reaped a rich harvest, 
and that they had their birth in this locality gives to this portion of 
Coulter Street considerable historic interest." 



COULTER INN 

No. 5400. Until recently this was known as "The Lin- 
den." AMien first built it was known as the Coulter House. 
It is situated upon the site of the farm house of Christo- 



S^V.,.^.)>di!a«//i'(«>>Ma'\...v».'- 










HOUSE OF CHRISTGI'HER BOCKIUS 



pher Bockius. He owned about twenty acres, his land ex- 
tending to the Coulter property. He was usually called "Stuf- 
fle" Bockius" by the boys who used his fields as a short cut to 
the Academy. He lived to a ripe old age, and after his death 
the house was occupied by his son Jesse, who was its last occu- 
pant. In the tax list of 1847 Jesse's occupation is given as a skin 
dresser. In the preceding sketch by Dr. William H. Trueman he 
has given an account of Jesse Bockius. The fulling mill spoken 



6 The name was really pronounced "Stuffle Buekus." Even at the pres- 
ent time many old residents of Germantown pronounce the name Bockius 
as if it were spelled Buekus. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 



287 



of by Dr. Trueman stood somewhat back from the street, and was 
torn down when the street was opened. 

Nos. 5401-3-5. (Ward, Nos. 4737-38.) Shoemaker says that 
Jacob Baisch once hved about here. In 1840 Pennell and ^lagar- 
gee occupied the premises. They kept a general store, dealing 
in dry goods, hardware and groceries. Before their time it had 




JAMES S. JONES 

been known as Runker's store. In 1847 Janies S. Jones purchased 
an interest in the business. It is now the dry goods store of 
James S. Jones & Co. 

About No. 541 1. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, Nos. 
4747-49. Upon this site formerly stood an old house that was occu- 



288 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AX TOWN 



pied in 1809 by Rev. John William Runkel.who had been pastor of 
the German Reformed Church at Market Square from 1802 to 
1805. In 1840, the place belonged to Abraham Keyser, a Quaker, 
He died at an advanced age and was succeeded by his cousin, 
Charles Keyser. Later than this it was known as the "King 
Property," from the name of its owner, Joseph King, who married 
a sister of Tabez Gates. The spot where the dwelling stood now 
forms part of the lawn of St. Luke's Church. 

ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

Standing somewhat back from the Avenue, in the midst of 
extensive grounds, is the beautiful church property of St. Luke's. 
It was the first Episcopal church organized in Germantown, and 
five other churches owe their origin to this mother church. 










It was organized in 181 1, although Rev. Mr, Neill, who was 
temporarily residing in Germantown. had held services in the 
Lutheran and German Reformed churches as earlv as 1760. He 
was at that time a missionary of the Church of E'ngland stationed 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOWN 291 

at Oxford and Whitemarsh. In the following letter he gives an 
account of these early services : 

"Germantown, May 12, 17G0. 

"I liave an invitation from some of the Englisli people in German- 
town to preach for tliem, as tliere is no land of English worship in the 
town, except a Quaker Meeting House, and, indeed, this is something 
extraordinary, as I don't know a family of the Church of England in the 
town but one, although it contains three hundred houses; but as they 
are divided into so many sects that no single sect is able to support 
a minister. — I mean the English people — and as I have offered to preach 
for them for nothing, Sunday evenings after the service is over, of my 
other churches, they readily embraced the offer. The use of the Lu- 
theran Church of the upper end of Germantown, and of the Calvinist 
in the middle of the town, are both offered to me by their respective 
ministers and people, as they appear more willing to have a minister 
of the Church of England to preach to their people that understand 
English (as most of the young people do) than any other denomination. 
Since I have had the misfortune of having the Glebe House, at Oxford, 
and the best part of my valuable effects destroyed by fire, I have re- 
moved my family to Germantown." 

In 1793. Rev. \Mlliam Smith, D. D., the successor of Mr. 
Neill at Oxford, also preached in Germantown. 

On Trinity Sunday, June 9, 181 1, Mr. Scott preached in 
Germantown. During this year services were held on Sunday 
afternoons and occasionally on week-day evenings by Rev. Jack- 
son Kemper. During this year it was thought the time had ar- 
rived when there should be a regular church organization, as 
there were now twelve families in Germantown who were con- 
nected with the Episcopal church. Accordingly, on the 28th 
of June, 181 1, a meeting was held at the house of Thomas Armat, 
which resulted in the organization of St. Luke's Church. During 
the first year, Rev. Jackson Kemper, afterward Bishop of Wis- 
consin, served as pastor. 

Rev. Mr. Warren of South Carolina served the church dtiring 
the summer months of 1812. Rev. Mr. Ward of Trenton supplied 
the pulpit for five months in 1813. The first extended pastorate 
was that of Rev. J. C. Clay, who was in charge of this interest 
and that of Norristown from December, 1813. ttntil February, 
1817. The following is a list of the pastors since that time : 

Rev. Charles M. Depuy, from June 22, 1817, to March, 1824. 

Rev. Edward R. Lippitt, from March, 1824, to August, 1825. 

Rev. John Rodney, from September 5, 1825, to October, 1867. 

Rev. B. Wistar Morris, from November, 1867, to January, 1869. 



292 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM ANT OWN 



Rev. Albra Wadleigh, from February 4, 1SG9, to May 25, 1873. 
Rev. W. H. Vibbert, D. D., from November 30, 1873, to December, 1882. 
Rev. Samuel Upjohn, D. D., the present Rector, took charge De- 
cember 2, 1882. 

It is interesting to trace the growth of the membership and 
congregation. In i8i6 the church reported a membership of six- 
teen communicants. The first representation in the convention 
was in i8i8, when Thomas Armat and James Stokes were the 
delegates. 

At the time of organization the first meetings were held in 
the Market Square Church, but later in a house belonging to 
James Stokes, situated on Market Square opposite School House 
Lane. This building proving too small, a change was made to 
another house belonging to ]\Ir. Stokes, at the northwest corner 
of Church Lane and Market Square. 

In iSiS Thomas Armat presented a lot of ground to the 
church and the first church building was erected. In 1840 this 
was enlarged, and again in 1851. In 1876 additional land was 
purchased and the present building erected, it being opened for 
service the first time on the 8th of June, 1876. In accomplishing 
this latter work it is worthy of note that the work was paid for 
as it progressed, and when the church was dedicated there was 
not a dollar of debt remaining upon it. 

SITE OF THE HOUSE OF GEORGE WILSON 

About No. 5417. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 
4755-) The house was built in 1796, as that date is shown in 
lead letters on the rain spout board which is still preserved. Wil- 
son was a shoemaker, and conducted his business in a part of the 
house. He acquired considerable notoriety at one time because 
of a suit he brought against the Portuguese ^Minister to the 
United States for an unpaid bill for shoes. As foreign ministers 
are exempt from legal proceedings, AA'ilson not only lost his suit, 
but was also heavily fined. In his notes on the tax list of 1809 
(Pcnna. Mag., Vol. if^, p. 4^8), Mr. Shoemaker states that the lot 
upon which St. Luke's Church now stands, and which was given 
to the church by Thomas Armat, was assessed at $289, and the 
property, No. 4755. at $513. The latter he mentions as still 
standing in 1891, and as being owned by the descendants of 
Thomas Armat. In the tax list both properties are given as 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 293 

belonging to the "estate of Thomas Armat." This would convey 
the impression that Mr. Armat was no longer living in 1809. 
But, as he really lived until 183 1, it seems probable that when, 
in this tax list, a property is mentioned as belonging to an estate, 
it is not intended to imply that the owner was no longer living. 

The last occupant of the Wilson house was a sewing machine 
agent. In 1890 the building was torn down and the ground 
leveled for the lawn of St. ^Margaret's House of St. Luke's parish. 

The AVilson house was considered haunted, and old ^Irs. 
Gravenstine, who lived in the next house above, and which stood 
a little back from the street, is credited with the following story: 
''A woman who once lived here one day went to court and swore 
falsely. On reaching home, and while standing by the pump in 
the yard, she boasted about what she had done, and immediately 
dropped dead. Ever afterwards the house was haunted, and a 
strange sound, like the rustling of silk, could be heard in the quiet 
of the night. The noise always began at the garret and rustled 
down the stairway to the cellar. There was trouble for a number 
of years in getting tenants to remain here for any great length 
of time." 

The Reiss family moved into the house in 1882, and were 
much disturbed by the strange noises that were heard almost 
nightly. These noises appeared to sound like some one coming 
down the stairs, and were so loud that the family were not un- 
frequently awakened by them in the night. One night a noise 
started from the garret and everything in the house seemed to be 
shaken by the disturbance. The wind was not blowing, but the 
weather outside was very cold. Nearer and nearer came the 
noise until finally the latch of the door was lifted. A cat that 
had been lying with her kittens in a box behind the stove jumped 
out of the box, raised her back and advanced towards the door 
switching her tail, evidently in a tense state of excitement. The 
door did not open, but the cat continued to sit there for a long 
time intently watching it. After a time everything became verv 
quiet. 

About three weeks before the death of Mrs. Gravenstine, who 
lived in an adjoining house, there was a great rattling of crock- 
ery in the Wilson house, as if all the preserve jars had bursted 
at once. The Gravenstines heard the noise and searched their 
house from top to bottom, but could discover nothing. They 



294 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

afterwards thought the noise came from the old salt vault in 
the house above, but they never investigated further. The cause 
of these noises was never discovered, as the members of the fam- 
ily never visited the attic, but one not superstitiously inclined 
would be likely to suggest "RATS !" in view of the fact that when 
the house was torn down there was found in the attic in a rat's 
nest, a long gold chain attached to a locket studded with diamonds 
and containing a lock of hair. There were also found in the attic 
a number of old silk dresses and several other old-fashioned arti- 
cles of apparel. 

About No. 5419. (According to the Directory of 1887 the 
number of this property used to be 4775. This is doubtless a 
misprint, and was intended for 4757 — the last two figures having 
been transposed.) An old house that stood back from the street 
on the site of St. ^Margaret's House was the home of the Graven- 
stines. The eldest Henry Gravenstine was the first sexton of St. 
Luke's Church ; his son Henry, and his grandson, who bore the 
same name, were also sextons of the same church. The last 
named died but a few years ago. He was also janitor for the 
Young Men's Christian Association when that body was first 
organized, and occupied the Stuckert house (Xos. 5431-33). 

About No. 5421. (Old number, 4757.) The house which 
formerly stood here, and which was last occupied by Samuel Mc- 
Nicholl, was at one time occupied by Bishop Morris, and after- 
ward by a man named Robinson. It is said that Robinson made 
a business of catching runaway slaves, an occupation at which 
he was quite successful. The house was occupied at one time 
by Samuel Butcher, who kept the toll gate at Chestnut Hill. 

Grandmother Gravenstine, who was living at the time of the 
Revolution, used to tell her grandchildren that a large vault in 
the cellar of the house was used by the people of Germantown as 
a place in which to hide their salt, during the time when the 
town was occupied by the British. This building was one of 
those which were removed to make way for the lawn of St. Mar- 
garet's House. 

FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE 

The first meetings of friends in Germantown were held in 
private houses, but a frame meeting house was constructed at a 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



295 



very early date. It was upon Lot No. 8, drawn in the name of 
Jacob Shoemaker, according to Matthias Zimmerman's explana- 
tion of the location, dated 1746, but according to an old deed 
dated January 4, 1690, Abraham Isaac op den Graef conveyed two 
lots to Jacob Shoemaker, and, in 1693, Shoemaker conveyed them 
to the Friends for a meeting place. 

The first meeting house, wdiich is believed to have been a 
frame structure, stood about twenty-five feet back from the street 







FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE ON COULTER STREET 
(Third Meeting House.) 



and just north of the buttonwood tree which still stands upon 
the front of the lot. 

A few years ago, in making an excavation, some remains of 
the original structure were found. A second buttonwood stood 
a little north of the meeting house, but this disappeared several 
vears asfo. 




296 HISTORY OF OIM GERMANTOWN 

A new house of stone was built upon the same site in 1705. 
It was in this house that the first Isaac Norris died in 1735. In 
1812 a third meeting house was built, somewhat further to the 
west, probably about where the school house stands. All of the 
first lot was afterward used as a burial ground. 

The present, or fourth meeting house, was erected in 1871, 
still further to the west. An old tablet that had been attached 
to the third house has been preserved and placed in front of the 
committee room of the present building. It reads as follows : 

In the course of time, most of the land in 
the original tract of fifty acres has been sold, 
but a portion has been repurchased, and a lar- 
ger burial ground has been laid out on grounds 
fronting on Greene Street. 

FRIENDS' LIBRARY 

No. 5418. The Friends have long recognized the import- 
ance of maintaining a collection of good literature which should 
be easy of access to the general public, and for more than half 
a century they have had a library attached to their meeting. It 
was at first located on Coulter Street, and was entirely free. 
About 1870, Alfred Cope and some others added to this collec- 
tion, and bought the slaughter house of George Rose, just north 
of their grounds, which they tore down and erected the front 
portion of the present library building. The slaughter house 
belonged to George Rose as early as 1840. About 1898, more 
ground was purchased, and the library building very much en- 
larged. The structure stands upon what was the southern part 
of Lot No. 9, drawn in the name of Isaac van Bebber. 

The library now contains about 21,000 volumes, but no 
novels. Among these may be found many standard works of 
German and French authors. In order to meet the needs of 
the Italians in Germantown, an Italian department has recently 
been added. 

Much of the success of this library is due to the good judg- 
ment and excellent management of William Kite, who, after 
many years of service as librarian, died in 1901. 

No. 5420. (Shoemaker, No. 4760; old number, 4762,) 
George Rose's house stood upon this site in 1840. When the 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 299 

present building was erected, the old house was turned around 
and used as a part of the back building. The old part was 
finally torn down when Geo. Wills enlarged the present struc- 
ture. It is now owned by George Pelstring. 




WIT.LTAM KITE 



No. 5422. (Shoemaker, No. 4762; old number, 4764.) On 
this site stood a frame house in which Jacob Emhardt lived in 
1809. The following year he moved to Nos. 5508-10, which he 
had bought. In 1840-5 this property belonged to Harman Osier, 
a tailor and prominent IMillerite. He was one of those who, 
believing the second coming of Christ was at hand, gave away 
all of his property, even to his cook stove. It is said that a 
few days before the time of the expected advent a gentleman 



300 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



came into Osier's place and gave an order for a new suit of 
clothes. Osier gravely informed him that the order was quite 
useless, and informed him of the great events that were expected 
to happen in a short time. 

When the present house was erected, the old building was 
turned around and moved to the rear. It now forms part of the 
back of the present house. 




OSLER HOUSE 



MULLEN (HARMER) HOUSE 



Nos. 5424-26. (Shoemaker, No. 4766.) This is the site of 
the Mullen homestead. The property belonged to Samuel Har- 
mer, a shoemaker, in 1809. On the tax list of that year his name 
is given as Harman. He was one of the most prominent Metho- 
dists in Germantown. He died October 21, 1854. 

In i860, the place was bought by Joshua Mullen, and it 
remained in the possession of the Mullen family until 1898, when 
it was purchased by Harry Righter, who built the present house. 
When the old building was torn down, a number of coins of the 
date of 1795 were found; also a Portuguese coin of a date prior 
to the Revolution. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOIVN 301 

MASONIC HALL 

Nos. 5423-5-7. (Ward and Hotchkin, Nos. 4761-63.) This 
is on the site of "Pine Place," or the "Rookery," as it was some- 
times called. It received the latter name from the circumstance 
that Rev. James Roocker, of Baltimore, who was then pastor 
of the Presbyterian Church, married a lady named Smart, who 
resided in the house, and went there to live. He died about 
1830, after which A. Bronson Alcott occupied the place and 
started a school there. His daughter, ^liss Louisa M. Alcott, 
the gifted authoress of "Little Women." and other popular books, 
was born in the house. Other places have been claimed as the 
place of her birth, but ]\Iiss Alcott herself, on the occasion of 
a visit to Germantown, made careful inquiries about the matter 
and satisfied herself that this was the place. The Alcotts re- 
moved to Massachusetts when Louisa was about two years old. 

No. 5430. (Ward and Hotchkin, No. 4772; Shoemaker, 
No. 4770.) This house was built for Albert Ashmead, as a wed- 
ding gift, by his father, John Ashmead, who lived in the house 
above. The manufacture of carriages was conducted on a part 
of the place in the rear. The house was afterward occupied by 
Charles R. Bockius. He died in 1901, and his daughter, Mrs. 
Edward A. Knight, resided in the house for a short time. The 
property is now owned by Elliston P. Morris. In the early part 
of 1903 the place was completely re-modeled. 

Nos. 5431-33. (Old numl)er, 4767.) This was built in 1800; 
in 1809 it was occupied by John Stuckert, a storekeeper. In 
1840 it was the residence of Charles Ralph, a cotton broker. He 
was noted for his love of fine horses. He was especially proud 
of a large roan horse named "Zack Taylor." The old German- 
town plank road (now Wayne avenue) was then the favorite 
locality for trying the speed of horses, and here "Zack" carried 
off the honors, doing a mile in the then unprecedented time of 
two minutes and forty seconds. This was regarded as a remark- 
able performance. 

The building was used at one time by the Young Men's 
Christian Association ; it was afterward altered into a tavern by 
Ambrose Reiber. In 1902 it was again re-modeled. 



302 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

No. 5434. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4774.) 
This was the residence of WilHam Ashmead, the father of John, 
and the grandfather of Albert Ashmead. He resided here, when, 
soon after the Revokition, he began the manufacture of the well 
known Germantown wagons. Watson, in his Annals (Vol. II, 
p. 65), gives the following account of the carriage building in- 
dustry in Germantown : 

"The first introduction of carriage building was somewhat curious. 

Mr. William Ashmead, a smith, observing the heavy build of the 
coaches of his day, and that they were mostly imported, if intended to 
be of a superior kind, bethought him to form an open-front light car- 
riage on his own plan. When it was done, it was admired by many, 
and was often called for by the wealthy who wished to travel to dis- 
tances: — among these was Mr. Bingham. They engaged it at one dol- 
lar a day; and it was in constant demand. At last, a gentleman from 
Maryland, who had seen it, came to the place to buy it. It was not 
for sale; but he offered £120 for it, and took it. Then another and 
another was built, and orders were renewed upon Mr. Ashmead. Soon 
increased demands occurred, and his son John being a carriage maker, 
received numerous orders for many kinds of light carriages, and espec- 
ially for phaetons. About the same time (the time of the Revolution 
and afterwards) Mr. Bringhurst, who was at that time a chaise maker, 
went largely into the making of carriages. Coaches and chariots were 
made for £200 and phaetons for £100. The same William Ashmead, 
as a smith, had made for himself a plough with a wrought iron mould- 
board, which was found to be a great improvement; and was so much 
admired by Lafayette, who saw its utility, that he purchased four of them 
for his La Grange farm in France. No patent was taken, and in time 
some other person, following the hint, made the same thing of cast 
iron. — such as is now in general use." 

The place was owned by John Ashmead in 1809. On 
Hopkins' Atlas of 1876 it is given as belonging to the estate 
of Albert Ashmead. It is now owned by E. P. Morris. 

Nos. 5439-41. Site of the house of Dr. Abraham Rex, who 
married an Ashmead. 

No. 5445. (Old number, 4779.) Prior to 1800 the Main 
Street front of this lot belonged to the Wayne family. It after- 
ward came into the possession of James Stokes, who had married 
into the Wayne family. Shoemaker says that in 1809 James 
Stokes's estate owned a house on the east corner of Main and 
Mill Streets. The lot had a frontage of 120 feet on Main Street, 
and extended back to about where Lena Street now is. The 
back part of the lot was a favorite exhibition ground for the cir- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 303 

cuses that occasionally came to town, and it was also famous 
as a place for fights between the "bullies" of "Dogtown" and 
"Smearsburg" on Sunday afternoons. Stokes finally sold the 
front of his place to three parties : Frederick Axe bought 40 feet 
on the corner; Dr. Abraham Rex bought the next 40 feet, and 
the last 40 feet was sold to Mr. Rose. Frederick Axe erected a 
one-story frame building, with loft above, on the corner. Here 
he established a store where, it used to be said, anything could 
be bought from a Bible to a fiddle. There were odds and ends 
for school children, cigars of his own manufacture for the man, 
butter and eggs for the housewife, spruce beer for the thirsty. 
and a great variety of other goods. It used to be said of 
"Freddy's" place that if you could not find what you wanted 
in it there was no use in looking any further. 

"Freddy" was a grandson of John Frederick Axe, who was 
for so long a time the keeper of the accounts of the Upper Bury- 
ing Ground. "Freddy's" parents and grandparents lived on a 
piece of ground near Washington Lane, which afterward be- 
longed to the late Gideon Keyser and Henry Freas. When he 
was a small child, "Freddy" was run over by a sled, and his in- 
juries were of such a character as to render him a cripple for 
life. This misfortune caused him to become the victim of the 
wild pranks of mischievous boys, not only around his store, but 
also while attending to his duty as weigher at the hay scales 
in Market Square. He was a prominent Millerite, and it was 
in his little shop that the faithful ones assembled on the night 
when the expected second coming of Christ was to occur. But, 
it is needless to say. the night passed away in an uneventful 
manner, and the sleepy and disappointed watchers dispersed 
to their homes in the early gray of the morning. 

About 1850, Frederick built a more commodious house and 
moved the little building to the rear of his lot. Some years 
later he moved into the Brownhultz property on Church Lane, 
and sold his stock to James Colladay, who kept the place for 
a few years. In 1863, Charles L. Eberle, a druggist, bought the 
property and moved the frame building to the rear. In this posi- 
tion it was first occupied by Edward Markley as a shoe store, 
and after him by James Goslin, an upholsterer. In 1872, it was 
rented by AA'illiam Knight, a barber, who occupied it until it 



304 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

was torn down in 1900. The property is now owned by William 
Thomas. 

Robert Thomas, in his "History of Methodism," mentions 
this corner as the site of an old frame house in which the Metho- 
dists held their first organized class meetings in 1796, under the 
leadership of Joseph Jacobs. Joseph Jacobs lived at that time 
in a small frame house on Main Street, near what is now West 
Haines Street. Frederick Axe was at that time a leading 
Methodist. 



CHURCH LANE (East from No. 5500 ) 

This street took its name from the German Reformed 
Church that stood on the site of the present Market Square 
Presbyterian Church. It was formerly called Mill Street, and 
before that, Townsend's Mill Road and Lukens' Mill Road. 

Mr. William H. Emhardt, who has been familiar with this 
locality from boyhood, says : 

"On the south side of Church Lane, or Mill Street, as it was for- 
merly called, there was but one cross street between Main Street and 
Old York Road, viz.: — Stenton Avenue. The railroad crossed the street 
on a low wooden bridge that was floored and covered with gravel. From 
Church Lane to Shoemaker's Lane, on the west of the railroad was 
Thompson's woods, where open air temperance meetings were held. At 
one of the meetings an exciting incident occurred. A well known "Ger- 
mantowner," a giant in stature and strength, who was under great ex- 
citment, came upon the ground and interrupted the meeting. He drove 
the speaker from the stand, and the audience scattered in every direc- 
tion. He then mounted the platform and attempted to harangue the 
crowd. Ellet Brown noticed that a child was near the stand and in 
danger. He stooped to remove the child, when the excited individual bit 
part of his ear off. Afterward, the man was backed against a tree, 
when George W. Rose seized his arms from the other side and held him 
firmly until others overpowered him. He was then removed to a place 
of safety. 

"Freddy" Axe, who had a store on the southeast corner of Church 
Lane and Main Street, together with Harman Osier and many others, 
were infected with the Millerite craze which reached its culmination in 
1843. Osier was a tailor, and gave away his stock preparatory to his 
departure. By certain signs and tokens, it was decided that the world 
would come to an end on a certain night. Freddy Axe, and others of 
their faith, met on the night designated, clothed in white, and awaited 
the arrival of a chariot of glass which was to take them to Heaven. 
Dawn arrived before their carriage, and they concluded that their mathe- 
matical calculations were in fault somewhere." 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 
MORRIS HOUSE 



30s 



No. 5442. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4782.) 
Hotchkin speaks of this as the Deshler — Washington — Morris 
House. Several authors have mentioned it as the property of 
Robert ]\Iorris. This, however, is incorrect. Its name of the 
"Morris House" is derived from the family in whose possession 
it still remains. It has had an eventful history, and very inter- 




DESHLER-MORRIS HOUSE 
(Once the Residence of General Washington) 



esting are the associations that cluster around it. It was built 
by David Deshler in 1772-^. He had come to this country from 
Baden, where his father, whose wife was a sister of Casper and 
John Wister, was an aid-de-camp to the reigning Prince. He 
engaged in business in Philadelphia, his place being situated 
on the north side of Market Street west of Second. He was 
very successful and was noted for his strict integrity. "As hon- 
est as David Deshler" became a common saying. Deshler's 
salve, which is still extensively sold by druggists of the present 
day, owes its name to him. Mrs. Deshler purchased the receipt 
from a butcher and it was at first sold under the name of 
"Butcher's Salve." 



3o6 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

After the death of David Deshler in 1792, the property was 
sold to Col. Isaac Franks, who had served in the Continental 
Army. At the time Philadelphia was visited by the yellow fever 
in 1793, Col. Franks had taken his family to Bethlehem to re- 
side. On account of the epidemic it was deemed best to remove 
the Federal and State offices from Philadelphia, and German- 
town was chosen as the place of retreat on account of its known 
healthfulness. Washington rented this house of Col. Franks, 
the amount paid for rent being the very modest sum of $131.56, 
including "Col. Franks' traveling expenses from and back to 
Bethlehem, the hire of furniture and bedding for his own family, 
the loss of one flat-iron valued at one shilling, of one large fork, 
four plates, three ducks, four fowls, one bushel of potatoes, and 
one hundred pounds of hay." It is also very amusing, in this 
connection to note the following extract from the diary of Col. 
Franks : "Cash paid for cleaning my house and putting it in the 
same condition the President received it in: — $2.50." Washing- 
ton again occupied the house from July 30th to September 20th, 
1794. In the General's cash book the following entry occurs, 
dated September 24th, 1794: "Isaac Franks in Full for House 
rent &c. at German town pr rect, $201.60." 

In 1804, the place was purchased by Elliston and John Perot, 
who had previously rented it for a summer residence. They were 
of French Huguenot descent. Elliston Perot died in 1834, and 
the Deshler house, which was part of his estate, was sold to 
Samuel B. Morris, of the shipping firm of Wain & Morris, who 
had married Mr. Perot's daughter Hannah. Mr. Morris died in 
1859, and left the property to his son Elliston P. Morris, who 
now resides there. 

Great care has been taken to preserve the original appear- 
ance of the interior of this stately and interesting old mansion. 
The antique furniture, paintings and bric-a-brac always com- 
mand attention. Of the old sofas and tables, none have been 
in the family for less than a century, while in the hall-way a 
two-hundred-year-old clock solemnly ticks away the hours. The 
grounds, also, are extensive and are kept in perfect condition. 

At the time of the battle of Germantown, General Howe 
had his headquarters at Stenton, but as the fight progressed he 
moved forward to Market Square and issued his orders from that 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 307 

point. It is possible that at that time he noticed the Deshler 
mansion, for, immediately after the retreat of the Americans, he 
established his headquarters at that house. It has been stated 
that while living here, Gen. Howe entertained as his guest, 
Prince William Henry, a midshipman in the Royal Navy who 
afterward became William IV, King of England. Mr. Ward 
shows that this cannot be correct, as the Prince did not enter 
the Navy until 1779, and as he did not come to New York until 
1781, he could not have been in Germantown in 1777. 

When Samuel Morris owned this property it extended all 
the way back to the Academy grounds. Near the rear end of 
the place there were two graves that were said to have been 
those of British soldiers. The mounds were very distinct and' 
Mr. Morris planted bushes around them. Greene Street was 
afterward cut through at this point and the rear portion of the 
land was sold. 

No. 5448, (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4784.) This 
property is said to have been in the Bringhurst family as early 
as 1725. It was owned by George Bringhurst in 1752. He was 
b>orn in 1732 and died in 1797. His mother was Anna Ashmead. 
In his will dated April 7, 1797, he styled himself a saddle-tree 
maker. His wife, who was Sarah Trump, survived him until 
1812. Shoemaker says that George Bringhurst lived here in 
1809, and that Robert and William Bringhurst, brothers of 
George, and like him, coachmakers, apparently lived with him 
at this time. Shoemaker's information was the tax list of 1809, 
and it is probable that the property should have been assigned 
to the estate of George Bringhurst on that list. The Robert 
and William who lived here at that time were George's children. 
Robert was the owner after his father's death. Robert died in 
1832, and the property came into the possession of Tudor Rob- 
erts Bringhurst. He died in 1843, and the place was then sold 
to Susan Mason. At one time an extensive carriage manufac- 
turing business was carried on here, and from the appearance 
of one of the front rooms it seems to have been used as a sales- 
room. In 1876 the property belonged to the estate of George 
Ashmead. The Ashmeads and Bringhursts were closely re- 
lated. In 1875 Rev. Charles W. Schaeffer made this his resi- 
dence. He died ^larch 25, 1890. His wife, who was Elizabeth 



3o8 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

Frey Ashmead, died November 22, 1892. While living here Mr. 
Schaeffer had the peaked roof changed into a Mansard roof. 



No. 5450. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4788.) 
This is supposed to have been built about 1790 by a Mr. Morgan. 
In 1806 it was sold by Anna Morgan, Robert Wain and others. 
It was presumably bought by Thomas Armat, as he made it his 
residence in 1807 and continued there until his death in 183 1. 
His family remained until 1841. Mr, Armat's philanthropic char- 
acter has already been referred to. St. Luke's Church received 
from him very material aid in addition to his contril^ution of 
the land upon which the church was built. Ward says, "At his 
own cost he erected the hay scales at Sixth Street and German- 
town Road, and also those at the Market Square, opposite his 
house, and gave them to certain beneficial societies to collect the 
returns as a part of their revenue, he, however, keeping them 
in repair." 

For many years this was the home of Dr. AYilliam Ashmead, 
According to the Directory he was living here in 1885. He was 
the owner of a relic of the "olden time," in the shape of a large 
table which had a very curious history. In the days when the 
Indians used to pass through Germantown on their way to and 
from Philadelphia, it was their custom to spend the night before 
reaching the city, and also the first night on their return, in the 
Market House that stood on the "Green." On such occasions 
it was the custom of Mr. Ashmead to bring this large table over 
to the market house, and then he and the neighbors used to 
spread upon it a bountiful repast for their dusky friends. The 
table is still in the possession of the family, and is owned at 
present by Dr. William Ashmead Schaeffer. 

No. 5452. (^^^ard, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4790.) 
The old building that stood on this site was built by John Ash- 
mead. About 1809 it was used by James Ashmead as a store. 
He lived in the house next above (5454). In 1876 the place 
belonged to the estate of George Ashmead. Dr. William Ash- 
mead, who lived at No. 5450, used this little building as a labo- 
ratory. It was afterwards used by Dr. Robert L. Pitfield as a 
bacteriological laboratory. It was torn down in 1904. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 



309 



JOHN ASHMEAD HOUSE 

No. 5454. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4792.) 
Upon this site stood, until recently, one of the most noted of 
the old houses of Germantown. It was torn down in 1904 for 
the purpose of enlarging the building of the Germantown Saving 
Fund. The rear portion of the house was built in 171 1 by John 
Ashmead. The front part was rebuilt in 1790. The Ashmead 
family came from Cheltenham, England, in 1682, and settled in 





■*;^..*^;;;2SS^ 



-«8»«% 




JOHN ASHMEAD HOUSE 
(Where the first Moravian School was organized) 

what is now Cheltenham Township, ^Montgomery County. The 
family consisted of John Ashmead, ]\Iary Ashmead his mother, 
his wife and two children ; also with them came his brother-in- 
law, Toby Leech, with his family. Ashmead and Leech had pur- 
chased a large tract of land from William Penn. On the 21st 
of October, 1688, John Ashmead died there and his wife died on 
the following day. Two years later his mother died, and letters 
of administration were granted to her son-in-law, Toby Leech. 
The family afterward separated, one part going to Philadelphia, 
where they bought half an acre near what is now Fourth and 



310 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



Market Streets. John came to Germantown, where he pur- 
chased five hundred acres and erected the original house, which 
continued in the same family for nearly two hundred years. 
Captain John Ashmead was born here. It is said of him that 
he made over a hundred voyages. During the Revolution he did 
good service for his country by bringing in many cargoes of 





much-needed powder. On one of his voyages to China his ves- 
sel was caught in a sudden and violent storm. So unexpected 
was it that, before sail could be taken in, the vessel was thrown 
nearly on her beam ends. Just at the critical moment Captain 
John whipped out his knife and cut a rope, whereupon the vessel 
righted. But for his presence of mind it is probable that the 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 311 

ship would have gone down with all on board. Captain John 
Ashmead was the third of that name ; his father, John Ashmead 
the second, died October 7, 1742. After the father's death his 
son \\"illiam lived in the house. 

In this house, on the 14th of May, 1742, the celebrated 
Count Zinzendorf organized the first Moravian school established 
in this country. It was, however, removed to Bethlehem in 
June of the same year, and became the foundation of the cele- 
brated school that still llourishes there. (See note following, 
No. 5226.) 

GERMANTOWN SAVING FUND 
S. W, Corner School House Lane and Germantown Avenue 

On this site originally stood a frame house built by Jacob 
Telner. It is mentioned as being a frame building tilled in with 
brick. Telner was a member of the Mennonite Church, but, as 
the Mennonites and the Friends were very closely allied, joint 
meetings of the two denominations were often held in his house, 
as they were also at the house of Thones Kunders and at what 
is now called the "Rock House," which is still standing on Penn 
Street, just east of the Reading Railroad bridge. It is said that 
William Penn spoke at some of these meetings. It is particu- 
larly mentioned that he did so at the "Rock House," and at the 
house of Jacob Telner. 

Jacob Telner was a merchant in Amsterdam prior to his 
coming to America. He first came over between 1678 and 1681, 
and the knowledge then obtained resulted in the purchase of 
the tract of which Germantown forms a part, also in the organiza- 
tion of the Frankfort Company that was formed for speculative 
purposes. 

Jacob Telner was one of the first burgesses of the town, 
according to the charter signed in London, August 11, 1689, by 
William Penn. He did not come over with the original thirteen 
families, but was one of those who drew for lots in 1689. His 
portion was the upper half of "lot No. 9 towards the Schuyl- 
kill," the other portion falling to Isaac Van Beeber. The Telner 
portion was owned by John Jarrett in 1714, and in 1766 by 
Christian Meng, William Ashmead and C. Bensell. 

About 1795, the Telner house was torn down, and upon the 
site Dr. Georee Bensell erected his residence. Dr. Bensell was 



312 ■ HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

born in Germany in 1757, and was the grandson of Hans George 
Bensel, who owned the property on the opposite corner. Dr. 
Bensell was, for many years, the only physician in Germantown. 

In 1832 Dr. Wilham Runkel occupied the property. In that 
year the Asiatic cholera was very bad in this part of the country, 
and a number of cases made their appearance in Germantown. As 
illustrative of its sudden and fatal nature, Miss Rebecca Milner, 
at that time the teacher in the Germantown Infant School, once 
stated that on her way to school one morning she saw Hannah 
Runkel leaning on the fence, and when she passed again in the 
evening on her way home from school, the girl was dead of 
cholera. 

At the time of the Civil War the house was the residence 
of Col. Rush, well known as the commander of Rush's Lancers. 
It was afterward occupied by Dr. George Malin for a number 
of years. Still later it was occupied by the Workingmen's Club. 
In 1880 it was torn down for the purpose of erecting the present 
building. Dr. Wiliam R. Dunton purchased the handsome colo- 
nial doorway, and it is now the front doorway of "The Laurens," 
at the southeast corner of Walnut Lane and Germantown 
Avenue. The cornice was bought by E. I. H. Howell, and placed 
upon his residence at No. 5218 Germantown Avenue. The par- 
lor mantel was purchased by Dr. William Ashmead Schaeffer, 
and now adorns the parlor of "The Greystone." 

No. 5501 (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4781.) 
This building, now occupied by the Women's Christian A'^so- 
ciation, has rather an interesting history. At the time of the 
yellow fever epidemic in 1793, the United States Bank was 
removed from Philadelphia to this building. In fitting it up 
for the use of the bank, massive vaults were built in the cellar. 
When the institution was again transferred to Philadelphia, at 
the close of the epidemic, the doors of the vault were sold to 
the Bank of Germantown, and when that corporation removed 
to its present location they were sold to the Germantown Mu- 
tual Fire Insurance Co. and were used by it until the company 
took possession of its present building. 

The tax list of 1809 shows that the property was still owned 
by the Bank of the LTnited States up to that time. It was after- 
wards bought by James Stokes, and in 1814 he offered the use 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 313 

of it to the newly organized Episcopal Church, now St. Luke's. 
The congregation had previously met in a smaller house belong- 
ing to Mr. Stokes, that is now in the rear of James S. Jones' 
residence, on the southeast corner of School Lane. When the 
church took possession of this building the two lower rooms 
were thrown together, thus providing for a congregation of 
about two hundred. Alorning services were held here until 
the erection of the permanent church building, some five years 
later. The afternoon, or evening services, continued to be held 
in the old German Reformed Church, the use of which had been 
freely granted. There appears to have been an excellent under- 
standing between the two congregations, for sometimes, when 
the pastor of the Reformed Church was absent or indisposed, 
the Episcopal pastor conducted a joint service of the two con- 
gregations in the building of the Reformed Church. 

In 1829 the place became a hotel and was kept by a man 
named Wade. It subsequently changed hands a number of 
times. In 1871 it belonged to Thomas Garrett. 

No. 5503. This property, now owned and occupied by Dr. 
J. R. Shellenberger, was occupied by Miss Rooker's school in 
1840. She was succeeded by a ]\Iiss Campbell. 

A careful examination of this building and the one below 
will easily satisfy any one that the two were at one time used 
as but a single building. The one below is built into this at 
the back of the parlor. There is also evidence in the front hall- 
way that there was a communicating door between them. The 
two were probably the first brick buildings erected on the IMain 
Street. 

MARKET SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

This stands upon the site of the German Reformed Church 
erected in 1733. AVatson says of the old church: 

"The front half part was first built; the back part was added in 
1762. This old church in the Market Square originated as a Dutch 
Reformed, and was built and used as one directly under the Reformed 
Church in Holland. From thence it had its first pastor. It had an 
ancient shingle-roofed steeple after the Dutch manner, and was sur- 
mounted by a well-finished iron cock, being the Dutch sign of a church. 
From its low elongated form, of stone, with its adjunct additions and 
affixes, and bare beams to the gallery — with high and narrow pulpit 
and sounding board — it was in itself a venerable specimen of the olden 



314 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 



time, and for that cause was to be prized for its associations. It seemed 
in itself calculated to bring up the recollections of the forefathers who 
once worshipped there. It seemed the very place to inspire the descend- 
ants with the hallowed reminiscences of those who had gone before 
them. Among its recollections was that of being the place where, in 
1793, General Washington and his family regularly went, as often 
as they had English preaching, which was sometimes done by Doctor 
Smith, from the Falls of Schuylkill." 

When the alterations were made in 1762, a qtiaint Dutch 
organ was one of the acquisitions. On each side of it was a 
figure of an angel with a trumpet. Children sometimes im- 




THE CHOIR ANGELS. 



agined that the music which filled the church proceeded from 
these figures. These Dutch angels have been preserved and 
remain in the possession of the Market Square Presbyterian 
Church. 

In the steeple was a bell that was cast in 1725. Upon it 
was the inscription in German. "Gott allein die Ehre," — ("To 
God alone the honor.") The steeple was surmounted by a 
weather vane that looked like a game cock roosting upon it. 
When the "Paxton Boys" encamped in Market Square, at the 
time they marched to Philadelphia in pursuit of the terrified 
Indians who had fled to their Quaker friends for protection, they 
amused themselves by shooting at this weather-cock. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AX TOWN 



315 



The "Paxton Boys" were so called because they came from 
Paxton. near Lancaster. For several years there had been some 
trouble with the Indians around Lancaster, and great hostility 
to them had developed. The excited people made the great 
error of condemning all Indians because of the unlawful conduct 
of a few criminals amongst them. As a matter of fact, they 
were, as a class, entirely peaceable and earnestly desirous of 
living in amity with their white brethren. On one occasion 
a number of Indians fled to Lancaster for protection upon being 
pursued by the whites. [^ 
For their better security, 
they were placed m the 
prison, but in broad day- 
light an armed party of 
horsemen e n t e re d the 
town, attacked the prison. 
and put all the Indians 
to death, not even sparing 
the women and children. 
Other Indians, hearing of 
this cruel outrage, fled to 
Philadelphia, and bringing 
with them their Mora- 
vian ministe''. The "Pax- 
ton Boys" who were pursuing them, several hundred in number, 
came as far as Germantown and the opposite bank of the Schuyl- 
kill. A delegation of citizens, headed by Benjamin Franklin, 
went out to meet them, and after great effort succeeded in per- 
suading them to return home. On their homeward journey they 
terrified the whole country by their lawless acts. The poor 
fugitives had a hard time of it in securing protection, even in 
Philadelphia. They were several times removed from place to 
place for better security. At last the excitement died out. and 
they remained in Philadelphia for several months. During this 
time they kept up their habit of regular Christian worship. 
Fifty-six of their number died of smallpox and were buried in 
what is now Washington Square. In the spring, accompanied 
by Aloravian missionaries, they departed and took up their resi- 
dence on the Susquehanna near Wyalusing Creek. 




THE OLD BELLi 



3i6 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOWN 

When the old church was taken down in 183S, the bell was 
purchased by the late Charles J. Wister. He obtained the 
ueather-cock at the same time. They afterwards came into the 
possession of his son, the present Charles J. Wister, who pre- 
sented the bell to the Alarket Square Presbyterian Church in 
1874. When the weather-cock came into the possession of Mr. 
Wister, he had it placed upon his chicken house. It was blown 
down a few years ago, and it has since reposed upon the top of 
a tall clock in the library of the old Wister homestead. The 
holes made by the rifle balls of the "Paxton Boys" have been 
carefully patched. 

At the time of the battle of Germantown, a battalion of Vir- 
ginians commanded by Col. Matthews were taken prisoners and 

temporarily confined in the church. 
They were in some degree the victims 
of their own enthusiasm. They had 
just captured a party of British sol- 
diers, and, elated with their success, 
they began cheering. The morning 
was very foggy, and they therefore 
did not discover that they were really 
within the British lines. Their loud 
hurrahing soon brought down upon 
^ , them a large force of the enemy and 

they were easily captured. This cap- 
THE WEATHERCOCK ^ure took place at Kelly's Hill, which 

lies between Chelten Avenue and 
Church Lane and east of Morton Street. 

On the 31st of December, 1741, it is said that Count Zinzen- 
dorf preached in this church his first sermon in America, and 
here, too, he preached his last one, on the 17th of June, 1742, 
just before he returned to Europe. 

In 1857, the building completed in 1839 was considerably 
enlarged. The present building was dedicated on the 17th of 
June, 1888. 

The way in which this chvirch, originally German Reformed, 
became a Presbyterian Church, was as follows : Soon after the 
Rev. Jacob Helfifenstein became the pastor, doctrinal controver- 
sies arose within the German Reformed Church, growing out 
of a fear that "Romanizing tendencies" were threatened. The 
pastor and people finally unanimously resolved to withdraw from 




HISTORY OF OLD GBRMAXTOIVN 317 

the communion of the Reformed Church. For three years, sub- 
sequently, they worshipped as an independent church. In 1858 
they made apphcation and were received into the fellowship 
of the Presbyterian Church. 

The following extracts from a letter written by Rev. Joseph 
Henry Dubbs, D. D., throw considerable light upon this period 
of the church's history : 

"The Market Square Church, Germantown, was originally connected 
with the 'Reformed Churcli of tlie United States,' formerly known as 
the German Reformed Church. There never has been a denomination 
called 'High Dutch Reformed Church,' though in German tlie title ap- 
pears sometimes as 'Hoch Deutsch,' which really means the same as 
'German.' The claurch was founded about 1726. Some persons have 
supposed it to be older, though the proof for an earlier origin is not 
satisfactory." 

"The following ministers are known to have been pastors of the 
congregation while it was connected with the Reformed Church: 

"John Bechtel, who came to Germantown in 1726 and was called 
regularly to the pastorate in 17S3; J. Bartholomew Rieger; Michael 
Schlatter, 1746; J. Conrad Steiner, William Stey, John George Alsentz, 
J. T. Faber, C. Frederick Foehring, J. C. Albertus Helffenstein, Samuel 
Dubendorff, J. C. Albertus Helffenstein (second time), Frederick Her- 
man, William Runkel, Charles Helffenstein, Frederick van der Sloot, 
Casper Wack, John H. Smaltz, Albert Helffenstein, Jr., Truman Osborn, 
Jacob Helffenstein. 

"During the pastorate of the last named, the congregation was 
separated from the Reformed Church. Mr. Helffenstein dissented from 
some of the teachings of the professors of the Theological Seminary 
of the Reformed Church, then in Mercersburg, now in Lancaster. On 
the 2th of March, 1853, he preached a sermon entitled 'A Perverted 
Gospel." which was, in fact, a declaration of independence. Under his 
influence the church separated from the Reformed Church and was sub- 
sequently received by the Presbyterians. 
"Lancaster, Pa., February 8th, 1902." 

The church was organized as the 3*Iarket Square Presby- 
terian Church, July i, 1856. There have been but few changes 
in the pastorate since that time. The following is a complete 
list of the pastors : 

Rev. Jacob Helfifenstein. D. D.. from 1842 to 1869. 

Rev. Edward Payson Cowan, D. D., from 1870 to 1882. 

Rev. John Eliot Wright. D. D., from 1883 to 1892. 

Rev. Thomas McBride Nichols from 1893 to May, 1905. 

Rev. Herbert Hezlep took charge in May, 1906. 

NOTES 

Although it is stated upon apparently good authority, and 
generally accepted as a fact, there may be a reasonable doubt 



3i8 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

as to whether the first sermon preached in America by Count 
Zinzendorf was that which he preached in the Alarket Square 
Church. 

He arrived in New York about November loth, 1741. 

He arrived in Philadelphia December loth, 1741. 

He preached in the German Reformed Church at Market 
Square, Germantown, December 20th, 1741 (Old Style) or 
December 31, (New Style). He spent one Sunday in Philadel- 
phia before he preached in Germantown. What did he do? Is 
it probable that a man of his well known active disposition 
spent the day without gathering around him some of the 
Brethren and holding some kind of a service? 

The following extracts also throw some light upon the 
movements of this remarkable man : 

"Zinzendorf arrived in New Yorlv in November, 1741. After visiting 
friends on Long Island he came to Philadelphia, where, after being the 
guest of the late venerable John Stephen Benezet, he hired a house, in 
which he held regular religious services for his immediate adherents, 
and any others who might feel inclined to avail themselves of these 
means of grace." 

"Having preached in various places, but for a season located in 
Germantown in and about Philadelphia, he settled down for the Luther- 
ans, whose pastor he continued to be tor about nine months." (History 
of the Moravian Church, by Abraham Ritter, p. 19.) 

MARKET SQUARE, OR, "THE GREEN " 

This pretty little park, originally called "The Green," is one 
of the most interesting features of Germantown, not only be- 
cause of its own intrinsic beauty, but also because of its historic 
associations. 

As its name implies, it was primarily intended for a market 
place, although it was also put to other public uses. This site, 
however, is not the one first chosen by the settlers for a market 
place. The place first selected must have been south of Queen 
Lane, and about where No. 5226 now is, as will appear from the 
following statements : 

On the 29th of July, 1685, Paul Wulfif purchased from the 
Frankfort Land Company 2134 acres of land in the town, which 
was situated "eastwardly to William Streper's land, and N. W. 
to the cross street." (What is now known as Queen Lane was 
at first called the Cross street of the town.) This statement. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



319 



as well as the records from old deeds, definitely fixes the locality 
of Paul Wulff's purchase as the land at the southwest corner 
of Queen Lane. 

From the Griiiid iiiid Lager Biicli we learn that in 1683, the 
first settlers of Germantown had laid out and reserved "One 
Acre of land for a Market, Town-house, Burying place and 
other publick buildings." In another document this one acre is 
spoken of as being "contiguous to William Streper's land." 
This would fix the locality as being along the eastern side of 
Wulff's land, and hence at about where Xo. 5226 now is. 

From some cause the site selected does not appear to have 
been satisfactory, for on the 3d of March, 1692, we find that the 














JptOiDl\AKK'^r'l\"vi 



Commonalty granted one-fourth of this reserved acre to Paul 
Wulff, in exchange for two lots of one-half acre each, "one-half 
acre on the east side of said Town lying towards Philadelphia, 
and the other half acre on the west side of said Town towards 
Plymouth." 

These two tracts of a half acre each, granted to the Com- 
monalty by Paul Wulff, could have been no other than the 
tracts now known as the Upper and Lower Burying Grounds. 
In the deed of conveyance it is distinctly stated that these 
tracts are especially for the purpose of burial places. To quote 
exactly from the deed : — "to this effect and in such manner 
that either half acre can, without opposition, be laid out for a 
public burying place." 



320 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

By another document of the same date, the BaiHff, Bur- 
gesses and Commonalty conveyed to Paul Wulff the remaining 
three-quarters of an acre of the reservation "for and in con- 
sideration of Four Pounds Current Silver Money of Pensilva- 
nia to them in hand paid by the s'd Paul Wulff." In the docu- 
ment the statement is made that this is done "for the common 
good, and to purchase a Place nearer the midst or Center of 
the s'd Town." 

The original reservation must have been objectionable from 
some other cause than mere lack of proximity to the center of 
the town, for in 1701 we find the people petitioning the Pro- 
prietor for permission to hold a street market temporarily near 
the same locality. It is quite probable that the greatest objec- 
tion to the tract was because of its shape, which was long and 
narrow, with but a small frontage on the Main street. 

The petition spoken of reads as follows : 

"To William Penn, absolute Proprietor and Governor-in-Chief of the 
Province of Pennsylvania and Counties thereunto annexed in 
Counsel met. 
"The Petition of the Bailiff, Burgesses, and Commonalty of German- 
town' Humbly Sheweth, That whereas it has been the good-will and 
Pleasure of their Honorable Proprietor above named, in the year 1GS9,. 
to grant by his Charter unto the said Commonalty 'To have, hold and 
keep, one Public Market every Sixth day of the week, in such con- 
venient place and manner as the Provincial Charter doth direct.' Now, 
Forasmuch the aforesaid Petitioners do conceive that it would redound 
to the benefit both of the Inhabitants of their Township, as also of 
their Neighbors round about them when a Weekly MarKet on the 
appointed day were kept in the Road or Highway where the Cross, 
street of Germantown goes down towards the Schuylkill. They there- 
fore herewith do humbly Intreat the Governor and his Counsel to f^stab- 
lish and confirm the now mentioned place to have and keep a Public 
Market therein, till your Petitioners hereafter may be able to procure 
a Place more agreeable to the Purpose, and the said, your Petitioners, 
shall ever pray, as in duty bound. 

"By Order of a General Court held at Germantown, the 2Sth day 
of the 4th Month, 1701." 

FRANCIS DANIEL PASTORITtS, 

pt. Cler. Cur." 

(From the Logan papers. Published in Vol. 1, No. 4, of the "Collec- 
tions of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania." P. 274.)* 

The original of the reply to this petition is now (Feb. 22, 
1904) in the possession of the .Site and Relic Society of Ger- 
mantown, having been deposited by Miss Sally W. Johnson.. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 321 

It reads as follows : 

"Pensilvania 

BY the Governr and Council 

"WHEREAS, The Proprietary and Governr by his Charter under 
the Great Seal, did in the Year 1689 grant unto the Innabitants of Ger- 
mantown to have, hold and keep one publick Market every Sixth day 
of the week in such Convenient place and manner as the Provincial 
Charter doth direct; and 

"Whereas, The said Inhabitants not having yet procured any par- 
ticular place for that purpose, requested the Governr and Council to 
establish and confirm that part of the Road or Highway where the Cross 
Street of German Town goes down towards ye Schuylkill for a pr.blick 
market to be weekly held on the sd day therein. 

"Ordained therefore that the said publick Road or Highway where 
the said Cross Street of German Town goes down to the Schuylkill, be 
an allowed and Established Market place, and that a Market be weekly 
held the said Sixth day of Every Week therein, till such time as the 
said Inhabitants shall be able to procure a place more agreeable and fit 
for the purpose." 

Signed by Order 
23d 6mo 1701. JAMES LOGAN, Secry." 

The tract now called "Market Scjtiare," is a part of 
the original "Lot No. 10 towards Bristol," and was drawn 
in the names of Dirck Kolk and Wiggart Levering. It after- 
wards came into the possession of James de la Plaine, who 
sold it to the Commonalty, the consideration which he received 
being four povmds — these four pounds being the amount re- 
ceived from Paul Wulff for three-quarters of an acre of the 
one acre originally reserved for a market place, etc., below 
Queen Lane (the Cross Street).' 

A literal translation of the original Court Record in rela- 
tion to this transaction reads as follows : 

"The Gth of the 11th month, 1703-4, in a full general Court from 
which nobody but Heinrich Tuben was absent, through general consent 
nomine contradicente, for the 3 fourths acre by Paul Wulff's house, 
and the same sold to him for four pounds, was for these 4 pounds 
from James de la Plaine bought a half acre of land, namely to the 
sortheast street 14 rods, and to the little street 5 and % rods wide. 
This half acre to be used for a Market place and the Prison House, 
Stocks, Pound, etc., thereon to be built." 



7 In early times Queen Lane wa.s called "the Cross Street to the Schuyl- 
kill." or more frequently, "The Cross Street." Some have supposed that 
School Lane was the original Cross Street, taut the evidence ftirnished by 
old deeds, drafts, etc., conclusively establishes the fact that the "Cross 
Street," could have been no other than Queen Lane. On a draft drawn by 
Christian Lehman, and accompanying- a deed from John Bechtel to Corne- 
lius Wevgant, in 1745, for land just south of this street, the road is 
recorded as "A Fifty ffeet Lane or Cross Street to Schuylkill." School 
Lane did not lead direct to the Schuylkill, but to Robeson's mill on the 
Wissahickon. 



322 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

"Further a contract was made with Herman von Bon and James 
de la Plaine to build the Prison House and Stocks, each to receive 
3 sh. 6 d. per day and hoard himself and have 2 quarts of rum bought. 
William DeWees agreed to build the Pound out of good wood, and 
Peter Schumacher and Isaac Schumacher were ordered to see that the 
prison and stocks were erected as soon as possible." 

Some delay appears to have taken place in the delivery of 

the deed, as from another extract from the Court Records we 

learn that : 

"On the 2d day of the 3d month called May, 1704, James de la 
Plaine delivered a deed of sale concerning half an acre of land in Ger- 
mantown unto Aret Klincken, Bailiff, for the behoof of the corporation." 

The Pound was at the southeast corner of the square, and 
the Prison, which was built of logs, was situated near it. This 
log prison could not have been very secure. Adam Hogermoed 
was at one time confined in it for intemperance, but his friends 
came in the night, pried up one corner of the building and set 
him at liberty. This adventure had an amusing sequel, for, 
when the town lost its charter, the prison was sold and Hoger- 
moed bought it. He then removed it to a spot near where 
Armat Street now is and occupied it as a residence. He was 
living there in 1807. 

The square was at first called "The Green," but, after the 
IMarket House was built in 1741, it gradually came to be called 
"Market Square." The lot was surveyed by Benjamin East- 
burn, Surveyor General of the Province, September 14th, 1740, 
preparatory to the erection of the Market House. This Market 
House stood at the northwest corner of the square. Here, also, 
stood the hay scales erected by Thomas Armat for the benefit 
of certain beneficial societies. 

We often speak of the "good old times," and perhaps fancy 
that the human race, or at least the younger part of it, is greatly 
degenerating, but evidently Germantown boys of the past were 
as fond of mad pranks as are any of the boys of to-day, as the 
following story will show. A farmer, on one occasion, had to 
leave his hay wagon all night near the market house. During 
the night, the boys of the neighborhood unloaded it, took it 
apart, and raised it up on the market house, where it was again 
put together and reloaded. The surprise of the neighbors, and 
the anger and annoyance of the farmer, when they saw the 
strange sight in the morning, can be imagined. 



HISJVRY OF OLD GERMAXTOJVN 325 

The market house was also used for the storage of fire 
ladders and other apparatus of the Middle Ward Fire Company. 
By the side of it they built an engine house, but in 181 9 both 
the engine and the house were handed over to a set of young 
men who organized another company, which was called the 
Fellowship Fire Engine Company. August 29th. 1833, the old 
engine house was sold for $4, and a new one erected at a cost 
of $95. In 1850 the Fellowship Fire Engine Comany moved to 
Armat Street, and the little building was sold to Paschall H. 
Coulter, who moved it to his grounds on School Lane near 
Wayne Street. Mr. Coulter's house has since been torn down, 
but the old engine house still stands and is used as a tool house. 
The old engine that was stored in this house was one of two 
that were imported from England in 1764 by the members of 
the Middle Ward Fire Company. It w^as given bv them to the 
Fellowship Fire Company at the time of its organization in 
1819. It is popularly known as the "Shag Rag." Since 1871 
it has been in the care of William H. Emhardt, President of the 
Germantown ?*Iutual Fire Insurance Co., and is deposited in 
the building of the company, at the northeast corner of School 
Lane and Germantown Avenue. 

In the Germantown Independent-Gazette, of Ji-^ne 8th, 1900, 
the following description of this interesting old relic was pub- 
lished : 

"Prominently displayed in the business apartment of the Mutual 
Insurance Company's building, is the oldest fire engine in America. It 
is called the 'Shag-Rag,' and was brought to this country from England 
in 17C4, for the Middle Ward Fire Company of Germantown. A descrip- 
tion of this old engine, now a decided curiosity, will doubtless be read 
with interest. It was built in London, by Newsham & Rag, prior to 
17G4, and is so arranged as to act either as a suction or force engine. 
The body is a wooden trough five feet long, eighteen inches deep, ar_d 
twenty-one inches wide, lined with copper sheathing. It rests on iron 
axles, which are permanently attached to the bottom, hence, as there is 
no fifth wheel, it was necessary, when a corner was to be turned, to 
lift the front wheels from the ground and make the wheel turn on the 
hind ones. The wheels are solid wooden ones, seventeen inches in 
diameter, and two and three-quarter inches thick, bound with heavy 
iron hoops for tires. In the rear of the engine are two upright copper 
cylinders, fourteen inches high and four and one-half inches in diame- 
ter; in these the pistons alternately worked, being forced up and down 
by two handles five feet six inches long, which run parallel to the 
engine on either side. As many men as could, laid hold of the handles, 
and, working them up and down with a quick, rapid stroke, accomplished 
what they then considered wonderful work. Between the small cylin- 



326 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

ders is a large one, also of copper, three feet six inches high, five 
inches in diameter at the bottom, and increased to seven inches at the 
top, out of which comes a pipe, having attached to it by a movable 
screw joint the copper branch-pipe called the 'goose-neck.' By the pecu- 
liar arrangement of this joint, the branch-pipe, which is five feet long 
and tapers to a half-inch nozzle, can be turned in any direction. When 
the engine was to be used for suction there was an opening in the 
bottom to which a pipe or a hose could be attached and lowered in a 
well or other body of water from which it was desired to draw a sup- 
ply As the engine had to be very close to the burning building, it 
was seldom that the water could be obtained in this way, the dependence 
being then on what could be passed along the line of men, women and 
boys, in leather buckets To prevent damage to the cylinders from 
pieces of wood or other objects that might be in the water, there was 
at either end a space partitioned off by a perforated sheet of copper, 
into which each bucket of water was poured, and was thus strained 
before passing into the cylinder of the engine. 

"Along the side of the engine was, and still is, printed in large 
letters, 'Germantown, 1764.' On a printed paper set in a panel, and 
thus protected somewhat, though unfortunately not enough to preserve 
it, are what remains of the directions how to work the engine. When 
well manned, the engine can still throw a stream half an inch in diame- 
ter fifty feet high. 

"The 'Shag-Rag' was probably the pride of the Middle Ward Fire 
Company until 1796, when a new engine was purchased. The two en- 
gines were used by this fire company till 1819, when the 'Shag-Rag' 
passed to the Fellowship Hose Company, an offshoot from the parent 
company. By 1822 the Fellowship found it too antiquated, and asked 
permission from the Middle Ward Fire Company to sell it and use the 
proceeds towards paying for a larger engine. This was granted, and 
in 1871 it passed into the possession of Mr. Emhardt." 

An Act of Assembly dated April lo, 1848, authorized the 

demolition of the old market hotise, but several years passed 

before it was torn down. The same act also authorized the 

erection of a town hall. There had been a strong movement in 

1847 i^ favor of erecting a town hall and a safe lock-up. Major 

Philip R. Freas offered a resolution in the Borough Council 

which provided for the appointment of a committee to inquire 

into the expediency of having constructed, at the expense of 

the borough, a town hall and lock-up. The committee was 

accordingly appointed, and they reported in favor of building 

a town hall and lock-up on IMarket Square. It was proposed 

to locate the building in the centre of the square, beginning two 

feet from the line of Main Street. It was also proposed that a 

street 28 feet 10 inches wide should be set off in the rear of the 

hall, and that a street 30 feet wide should be set off on the 

northwest side, in front of the property of Charles M. Stokes, 

now the location of the Germantown Mutual Fire Insurance 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAN TOWN 



327 



Company. The movement, however, came to naught, largely 
due to public opposition. Some years later, in view of the 
proposed consolidation of the borough with the city of Philadel- 
phia, the matter was again agitated. The Borough Council 
purchased land of Samuel Harvey at that time and erected the 
present town hall. 

Until within a few years there were several fine trees within 
the square. At the east corner was a beautiful weeping willow. 
It blew down durins: a storm in 1888, and the wood w^as sold 




SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, MARKET SQUARE 

to a maker of shoe lasts. In the picture of Market Square 
shown in Watson's Annals, this tree is shown as a small sapling. 
Along the Avenue there were several buttonwoods and two 
white ash trees. The latter were destroyed by the electric light 
people, who cut ofT the tops and larger limbs in order to per- 
mit the stringing of their wires. The largest buttonwood is all 
that now remains, and this was only saved from destruction 
with considerable difficulty, through the efforts of several influ- 
ential citizens, at the time the granolithic pavement was placed 
around the square in 1901. The trees that stood along the 



328 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAN TOWN 

Avenvie were planted about sixty years ago by Samuel B. 
]\Iorris. the father of Elliston P. Morris. He placed boxes 
around them for their protection, but the mischievous boys of 
the neighborhood gave him serious annoyance. For several 
evenings, just about the time he sat down to supper, word would 
be brought to him that the boys had pushed over the boxes. At 
last he secreted himself, one evening, in the old market house, 
and when the boys made their appearance he came out of his 
hiding place and called to them. He told them not to run as 
he did not mean to harm them in any way. He then went on 
to tell them that he had planted these trees for their benefit, so 
that long after he was dead and gone they and their children 
might enjoy their beauty and shade. The lesson proved effec- 
tual, for the boys never molested them afterward. A man once 
informed ]\Ir. E. P. AJorris that he had been one of the mischiev- 
ous crowd, and that the boys were much impressed by the 
gentle way in which his father had dealt with them. 

In the center of the square stands the soldier's monument, 
erected in 1883 through the efforts of the members of Ellis Post, 
No. 6, G. A. R. It is built of Quincy granite, with a top piece 
of granite from Devil's Den, Gettysburg. It is surmounted by 
the granite figure of a soldier at "parade rest." The fence sur- 
rounding the monument is made of old musket barrels and 
bayonets. In the enclosure are many relics of the Civil War in 
the shape of old cannon, mortars and shot. The two mounted 
cannon in front of the monument have an interesting history, 
They were among the materials of war secured by the South 
from U. S. arsenals at the outbreak of the Civil War, and were 
used against the National forces, but were finally captured by 
Union troops. One of them has upon it the name of a Confed- 
erate officer who was killed while serving it. The inscription 
reads : 

Colour Bearer Q. T. Mitchell 

1st Tenn. Vols. 

Brig. Gen. Geo. Maney's Brigade 

Killed at 

Perryville 

Oct. 8. 18G2. 

Within the railing, on the north side, is an old cannon 
broken oft' at the trunnions, which was recovered from the wreck 
of the British frigate Augusta in 1876. This vessel, it will be 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 329 

remembered, was blown up near Fort ]\Iifflin on the morning 
following the battle of Red Bank in October, 1777. 

Upon the sides of the monument are the Coats of Arms of 
the United States, of Pennsylvania, and of the city of Philadel- 
phia ; also a badge of the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1900, 
bronze memorial tablets were placed at the four corners. The 
first tablet contains the names of those Germantown soldiers 
who died in battle or of disease during the Civil War. The 
second and third tablets contain the names of soldiers who died 
between 1885 and 1900, arranged alphabetically. The fourth 
tablet is to contain the names of those dying subsequent to 1900. 
Since the monument was erected, there have been some efforts 
to have the place called Monument Square, but this change is 
not likely to be made. Germantowners are properly fond of 
maintaining old traditions, and it is to be hoped that the old 
name will be handed down to the generations to come. 

The square was greatly improved in the spring of 1901, 
City Councils having made an appropriation of $2500 for that 
purpose. In order to replace the old trees that had been de- 
stroyed, several small buttonwoods were planted inside the 
coping. In the spring of 1906 these were replaced by pin oaks, 
the gift of several citizens. 

One of the earliest pictures of Market Square was painted 
by William Britton some time prior to 1835. It shows the 
market house, the fire engine house and the corners of School 
Lane as they then appeared. A number of photographic copies 
of this have been made. Incidentally it may be mentioned that 
the same artist made all the Germantown pictures used by 
AVatson to illustrate his Annals. Several pictures of the square 
as it was in former times were also made by John Richards. 

SCHOOL HOUSE LANE 

No. 5500. This street is on a part of the trail followed by the 
Indians in traveling from the Wingohocking Creek to the Wissa- 
hickon. It was much used in going to Robeson's mill at the 
mouth of the AA'issahickon, and was, for a long time., known as the 
Robeson's Mill Road. It has also been called Ashmead's Road, 
Bensell's Lane, and School Lane. On a map of the Township 
of Roxborough published by M. Dripps of Philadelphia in 1848, 
it is marked "Manatawna or School House Lane." At one time 
it was called King Street, to correspond with Queen Street, but 



330 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



the coming of the Revokition caused the name to become very 
unpopular and it was dropped. 

East School House Lane was opened by William T. D.. 
Roberts. It extends east from No. 5519. 

SITE OF THE DE LA PLAINE HOUSE 

Nos 5521-23. (Ward and Hotchkin, No. 4801. Old num- 
bers, 4801-3.) 

The building of the Germantown Mutual Fire Insurance 
Company stands upon the site of a dwelling erected at an early 




DE LA PLAINE HOUSE 



date by James De la Plaine, although the time of its erection is 
not definitely known. It was built of stone and was two stories 
in height. Like most of the Germantown houses of that period 
it had a pent-house and hipped roof. James De la Plaine was 
the son of Nicholas De la Plaine, a French Huguenot who set- 
tled in New York about 1657 and in 1658 married Susanna Cres- 
son. James De la Plaine settled in Germantown in 1691 and in ■ 
1692 married Hannah Cock of Long Island. The ground pur- 
chased 'In Germantown by James De la Plaine was known as 
"lot No. 10 towards Bristol." It consisted of two lots of fifty 
acres each. One of these lots was sold by the Frankford Com- 
pany to Dirck op den Kolck (Kolk), August 18, 1689. (Deed 
Book F, Vol. 7, p. 143.) 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 331 

This lot consisted of the land fronting on the main street be- 
tween Church Lane and School House Lane. The other lot of fifty 
acres was sold by the Frankfort Company to Wigard Levering 
August 10, 1685, and adjoined Kolck's land on the north. On 
May 6, 1691, Dirck Kolck sold his portion of lot No. 10 to James 
De la Plaine. On June 19, 1692 Wigard Levering conveyed his 
fifty acres to James De la Plaine. By these two purchases James 
De la Plaine became the entire owner of lot No. 10, and upon it 
he erected the house which was known for so many years as the 
"De la Plaine house." He was a prominent Friend and an in- 
fluential citizen. He died in 1750. His son James, who was 
born in 1695, succeeded to the property, or at least to that por- 
tion containing the old homestead. He was first married to 
Elizabeth Shoemaker and later to Ann Jones. On June 23. 
1775, when 80 years of age, he joined with his wife Ann in con- 
veying the property to Joseph Ferree and Sarah, his wife, the lat- 
ter being the daughter of James De la Plaine. They were living 
here at the time of the Revolution, and the husband was general- 
ly known as "Squire" Ferree. He was of French Huguenot de- 
scent. In 1771-73 he was a member of the Assembly from Lan- 
caster County, and in 1774 he became a member of the county 
committee to consider the general dissatisfaction with the British 
government. Nothwithstanding the fact that he was generally 
regarded as an infidel in matters of religion, he appears to have 
had the confidence of the people as a man of integrity and one 
worthy of trust. 

On the 2ist of May, 1776, the Pennsylvania Council of Safety 
ordered that all the salt that was available should be removed 
to Germantown and stored there. The same Committee, on the 
8th of July passed the following resolution : — 

"Resolved, That Dr. Charles Bensel, Joseph Ferree and Leonard 
Stoneburner be appointed to collect all the leaden window-weights, clock- 
weights, and other lead in Germantown and its neighborhood, for which 
the liberal price of six pence per pound will be allowed, and they are 
authorized to draw on this Board for the same." 

These stores were deposited in "Squire" Ferree's cellar. 
Some of the salt and saltpetre delivered here in the winter time 
was brought on John Ashmead's sleigh. This sleigh is now in 
the possession of Dr. William Ashmead SchaeiTer. The fact that 
"Squire" Ferree was the custodian of the government stores is 
shown by the fact that July 31, 1776, the Council directed Joseph 



Z2>2 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

Ferree to "deliver to John Alitchell, Commissary for A^ictualling 
the Navy, 25 bushels of salt out of the stores at Germantown." 
On August I, he was also to deliver more salt and one ton of 
saltpetre to Henry Huber, 

When Rev. George Whitefield visited Germantown he 
preached from the balcony of this house to the people assem- 
bled in Market Square. 

After Ferree's time the house was owned by John From- 
berger. James Stokes purchased the property from him, as the 
following entry in his account book shows : — "Building and 
about three acres of ground, upper end of the Market Square 
in Germantown purchased of John Fromberger on 22d of Jan- 
uary, 1799, ninety-four on Main Street, and ninety-one feet on 
Market Square, $6000." 

The house was afterward divided, and Rev. B. Wistar ]Morris 
lived in a part of it until he was made a Bishop of the Episcopal 
Church, when he removed to Oregon. The building was then 
altered into three stores. In one of these A. P. Keyser started 
the first store in Germantown that was exclusively devoted 
to the sale of tea and coffee. E. B. Paramore was the last oc- 
cupant of the corner store. 

About 1885 the Mutual Insurance Company purchased the 
property, tore down the old buildings, and erected the present 
beautiful structure. While the picture gives the appearance of 
there being two houses, the building was doubtless but one 
dwelling. 

De la Plaine's old lantern was, a few years ago, in the pos- 
session of Jacob Stauss of No. 221 Penn Street. 

NATIONAL BANK OF GERMANTOWN 

Nos. 5500-2-4. That part of the Bank building which occu- 
pies Nos. 5500-2 is upon the site of the old Bensell house. That 
house is supposed to have been erected by Hans George Ben- 
sel. Townsend Ward states that the Bensells were descend- 
ents of a bishop of the Swedish Church at Upsal. 

The buildings on this side of the street, up to and includ- 
ing the "King of Prussia," are upon "lot No. 10 towards the 
Schuylkill," drawn in the name of Heivert Papen. He pur- 
chased 50 acres from the Frankfort Company, "according to 
the dimensions of the Statute made in the 33d year of King 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



333 



Edward the First, viz. : 20^ acres broad as all the other lots, 
14 perches and 4 feet, bounding at the Southeast to Cross Street 
and at the Northwest to Jacob Isaacs, and further 29J/ acres 
broad, i perch and 6 foot, bounding at the Southeast to Jacob 
Telner and at the Northwest to the said Jacob Isaacs, in the 
tract of side land." (Grund nnd Lager-Buch, p. 2ip.) 

The town lot had a frontage of 235 feet on the Main Street 
and extended to the Township line. The original deed con- 
tains the following interesting agreement in which Papen 
pledges his services for the 50 acres purchased : 




N. W. CORNER SCHOOL HOUSE LANE AND GERMANTOWN AVENUE 
(Site of National Bank of Germantown) 



"Whereas, Thomas Van Wyleck and John Le Brun, both partners, 
of Franckfort Company, by the 3d article of Indentur made with Heyvert 
Papen to 23d of the 1st month, March, 1685, ordered amongst other 
things that there should be assigned hereunto the said Heyvert Papen 
50 acres of land to work thereupon one day every week during the 
four years of his service, and after they are faithfully finished to pay 
for the same the usual rent of this country. But in the aforesaid in- 
dentur the Sum of the yearly rent not being oyemstly (accurately?) 
expressed and the word usual ambiguous and of a divers construction, 
the above named Thomas Van Wyleck in a particular Letter under 
his own hand dated the 1st of the 2d month (April), 1688, did refer 
the difference to impartial arbitrators. In pursuance whereof afterward. 
Anno 1689, the 3rd of the 6 month (August), Francis Daniel Pastorius, 
the Attorney of the said frankfurt Company, in their name, and Heyvert 
Papen, in his own behalf, have putt & Committed the questionable point 
to hindray Waddy, John Hart, William Hudson, Henry Bartlett and 



334 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

Richard Helliard five unsuspected men laying the above sd Indentur 
before them and binding both Parties in the penalty of ten pounds to 
stand unto their determination which said five arbitrators by their accord 
in writing judged that Heyvert Papen shall pay yearly for the said 50 
acres to the francfurt Company, or order, the sum of tv,'o shillings and 
one penny Lawful mony of old England, or this Country mony equalent." 

Heivert Papen died in 1707 snd left his estate to his wife 
and children. An inventory of his estate dated the 31st day 
of 1 2th month, 1707-8, gives the penal bond as valued at 60 £, 
and total valuation of goods and chattels as 142 £, I7sh., 6d. 
l-'apen's wife died in 1720 and the children sold the property 
to Griffith Jones, June i, 1720. As a messuage is mentioned in 
this deed of conveyance, it seems certain that the Patton house 
at No. 5506 was built prior to that date, and there is good 
reason for believing that it was erected during Heivert Papen's 
life time. 

January 7, iy22-2) Griffith Jones purchased the adjoining 
lot (No. 11), which was then owned by his father-in-law, Thones 
Kunders. This additional purchase made him the owner of 470 
feet along the Main Street and extending back to the Town- 
ship Line. Griffith Jones was a speculator in land and at the 
time named was an extensive land owner. 

March 29, 1727, Griffith Jones and Elizabeth, his wife, sold 

to "Hans George Bensel, a weaver," that portion of lot No. 10 

situated on the corner. It is thus described : 

"Beginning at corner of Cross Street towards Schuylkill, running 
South West 59 perches 5 ft. to a stone for a corner, then North West 
6 perches 8 ft. to a stone. Thence North Bast by land of Griffith Jones 
59 perches 5 ft. to a stone by Germantown Street, thence South East 
6 perches 8 feet, containing 2 acres one quarter and a half a quarter 
of an acre of land, and ground on the side land amounting to 10 acres." 
(Deed Book D, No. 20, p. 447.) 

An interesting matter connected with this deed is the fact 
that it gives the recital of deeds back to William Penn. The 
107 feet fronting on Main Street purchased at this time was 
afterward occupied by four houses ; the oldest of these was the 
present Patton property (No. 5506) ; the next one erected was 
the large double house on the corner, built by Hans George 
Bensel ; and the last was that upon which the upper portion of 
the bank building now stands (No. 5504), which was built by 
Charles Bensell, a son of Hans George Bensel. 

Hans George Bensel ultimately dropped the first part of 
his name and became known as George Bensell. He was a 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMAXTOWN 335 

prominent member of the German Reformed Church, and was 
one of the trustees mentioned in the deed when that church 
purchased property on Market Square, November 9, 1732. In 
his will dated July 8, 1763, he left that church 20 Pounds. {IVill 
Book N, p. 60.) 

After he built the corner property he devoted half of it to 
the uses of a large general store, and in documents of the time 
he is styled a "shopkeeper." The inventory of his effects at 
the time of his death is a curious document. It is on file in 
the office of the Register of Wills. The account is filed by 
David Deshler and Leonard Stoneburner, and contains a long 
list of old time names. Among the articles enumerated are the 
following: "Scarlet knap, check black, drugget, linsey, flannels, 
Scarlet Sarge, superfine cloth, Bird Eye Tammy, Brieches pat- 
erns, oyl cloth." 

He left his Germantown property to his wife, Ann Bar- 
bara, for life, and at her death it was to go to his son Charles 
for life ; at Charles's death it was to be divided among his (Hans 
George Bensel's) four grand children, Charles, George, James 
and Sarah. To his son Charles, "dwelling house on German 
street, wherein he now dwells, containing in front of said Ger- 
man Street 3 P. 4 ft." To his grandson and namesake, George, 
was to be given a double portion. He also left to his son 
Charles, in trust for his daughter Elizabeth, for life, the house 
she was living in, which was situated upon his lo-acre tract 
in the side land. At her death this was to be sold and divided 
among her children, George, Ann, Eliza, Charles and Mary. 
This daughter, Elizabeth, married Anthony Deshler, and the 
house mentioned above is now known as the "Billmeyer House." 
(See No. 6505-7 Germantown Avenue.) 

The actual division of the estate took place ^lay 31, 1798, 
and the deed of partition is "Between Sarah Bensell, the elder, 
widow of Charles Bensell the elder. Physician ; George Bensell, 
Physician, and Mary, his wife; and Engle Bensell. Gentleman; 
George and Engle being the only two surviving sons of Charles 
Bensell the elder; and also Samuel Billing, Gentleman, and 
Sarah, his wife, only daughter of said Charles Bensell, the elder." 
(This deed is now owned by the Germantown National Bank.) 

In this division the corner property (double house) went 
to Sarah (Engle) Bensell; the "three-story high stone messuage 



ZZ6 ■ HISTORY OF OLD GERM AX TOWN 

or tenement" (No. 5504) went to Sarah Billing; and the pres- 
ent Patton property (No. 5506) went to Engle Bensell. Sarah 
Engle Bensell died in 1800, and in her will dated July 15, 1769, 
she left the corner property to her son Engle, who was an in- 
valid. Engle Bensell died in 1805, and in his will dated March 
26, 1769, he left his estate, for life, to his brother George, who 
was a physician. Dr. George Bensell was now the possessor 
of the entire Bensell estate. He occupied the dwelling on 
the southwest corner of School Lane as his residence and 
rented the building on the northwest corner. As has already 
been stated, the latter was a double house, built of stone, in the 
then prevailing style of architecture, having a hipped roof and 
pent-house. Dr. George Bensell was born in 1759 and died in 
1827. His will can be found in Will Book No. 9, p. 133. 

He had given a mortgage on his estate to the Bank of Ger- 
mantown, and, to satisfy this, sales were made by the Sheriff 
and recorded as follows : 

(0]d District Court BooV: — Prothonotary's office, Book E, pp. 241 
and 249, in 1828; pp. 254, 257, 301, 312, 347, in 1829; p. 444, in 1830.) 

The corner property was conveyed by Sheriff's deed to James 
Stokes, October 9, 1828, for $1960. At the death of James Stokes his 
estate was divided, and in the partition the corner property was sold 
to Edward C. Wayne, December 31, 1832. (Book F, p. 228— District 
Court.) 

Edward C. Wayne evidently acted in the capacity of what is called 
a "straw man," as he conveyed the property to Hannah Stokes, widow 
of James Stokes on the same date (December 31, 1832). 

'Hannah Stokes, by will dated January 21, 1836, left the corner 
property to Jacob B. Bowman. The upper end of the double house 
on the corner went to St. Luke's Church. The front of each of these 
properties is specified as being 24 feet 4 inches on the Main Street. 

January 20, 1840, Jacob B. Bowman granted to Mary L. Burt for 
and during her life, and at her death to her children, the corner house. 
(Deed Book R. L. L., No. 51, p. 463.) 

June 19, 1867, the heirs of Mary L. Burt, viz.: Clarissa Burl and 
George M. Wagner and wife (formerly Eliza Burt) sold the corner to 
the Germantown Bank. (Deed Book J. T. O., No. 68, p. 451.) 

September 14, 1865, the Rector, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of 
St. Luke's Church sold that portion of the double house belonging to 
the church to Thomas C. Garrett. (Deed Book L. R. B., No. 112, p. 428.) 

July 5, 1867, Thomas C. Garrett and Frances B., his wife, sold the 
property to the Germantown Bank. (Deed Book J. T. O., No. 68, p. 399.) 

Under the various owners the properties were often rented. 
At the time when Hannah Stokes was the owner, the house on 
the corner was occupied by the Germantown Library. The 
Library was in charge of the daughter of Stephen Boisbrun. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOIVN 337 

who kept a little store. The Library remained here until about 
1842, when it was disbanded. The next occupant was William 
Van Horn, who kept an ice cream and confectionery store. 
After him came Frederick Brownholtz, and he was followed l^y 
Frederick B. Rittenhouse. The last occupant was Joseph Van- 
derslice, who kept a grocery store ; he vacated it at the time 
it was purchased by the bank. He was descended from one 
of the early settlers named Van der Sluys. 

Soon after the purchase of the property by the bank the 
lower or southern portion of the present bank building was 
erected. 

No. 5504 (Ward and Hotchkin, Xo. 4804.) The upper half 
of the building of the National Bank of Germantown is situated 
upon the site of a three-story house built prior to the Revolu- 
tion by Dr. Charles Bensell, the elder. In the partition of his 
estate this house went to Sarah Bensell, who married Samuel 
Billing. She was the owner in 1809. At one time the Ger- 
mantown Library occupied it. Later it was the dwelling of 
Paschall Coulter. In 1840 it belonged to Hannah K. Lehman. 
In 1870 it belonged to James R. Gates, and he sold it to the 
Germantown Bank. The last occupant was E. B. Paramore, 
a grocer. When it came into the possession of the Bank, it 
was torn down for the purpose of extending the bank building. 

During the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 this building was 
occupied by the United States Bank. In regard to this Watson 
says : 

"In 1793, when General Washington dwelt in Germantown, the town 
was held as the government place of ihe Stat-e of Pennsylvania and of 
the United States, and this was because of the necessary retreat of the 
officers and offices, from the city of Philadelphia, where the yellow 
fever was raging with destructive effect. At that time the office of 
State, etc., of Pennsylvania, was held in the stone house next above 
B. Lehman's. There you could every day see Governor Mifflin and his 
Secretary of S+ate, A. J. Dallas. The house, now the Bank of German- 
town, was occupied by Thomas Jefferson, as Secretary of State of the 
United States, and by Mr. Randolph, as attorney general. The Bank 
of the United States was located in the three-storied stone house of 
Billings, and when its treasure was brought, it was guarded by a troop 
of horse." 

Mr. Watson also fixes the location of two other well known 
banks at the time of the" epidemic of 1798, as follows: 



338 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

"It was then expected that the next, or future j^ears, might be 
again visited by yellow fever; and, therefore, numerous engagements 
of houses and purcliases of grounds at increased prices were made, to 
insure a future refuge. In this way, the Banks of North America and 
of Pennsylvania found a place in the Academy in the next fever, which 
occurred in 1798." (Watson's Annals, Vol. 2, p. 41.) 

At the time of the Revolution Dr. Charles Bensell was an 
active patriot, and when it became certain that the British were 
likely to occupy Germantown, he wisely concluded that it 
would be best to take a trip up into the country, as the follow- 
ing extract from the diary of Mr. John Miller will show : 

"September 23, 1777. The alarm this morning is very great. The 
militia are returning in great haste; tell us the British passed the 
Swedeford last night, and are in full march for Germantown. From this 
news many fled this night. Among them was Dr. Bensell and family, 
which went to Horsham. He left a well furnished house and a large 
shop of medicines, which the enemy, as he was a known whig, de- 
stroyed, or carried off." (Watson's Annals, Vol. 2, p. 68.) 

The Bank of Germantown, now the National Bank of Ger- 
mantown, was chartered by the State of Pennsylvania in 1813, 
and went into operation in July, 1814, in the parlor of this 
house which had been fitted up for the purpose. It is rather 
an interesting fact that the paying teller at present stands on 
the exact spot where the bank first opened for business. 

In connection with the occupation of this building by the 
Bank of Germantown, the following extract from the minutes 
of the meetings of the Board of Directors is of interest: 

"At a meeting of the Directors of the Bank of Germantown held 
agreeably to appointment at Michael Riter's tavern, the following reso- 
lution was passed: 

"Resolved, That Richard Bayley, Charles Wister and Samuel Johnson 
be a Committee to procure and fit out a house suitable for a Banking 
House in the village of Germantown." 

At an adjourned meeting held on Saturday, July i6th, 1814, 
the Committee made the following report : 

"The committee for procuring and fitting out a Banking House report, 
that they have leased from Dr. George Bensell for the term of six years 
and six months from the 15th of June last, at a rent of $300 per annum, 
payable quarterly, a three-story stone house opposite the six milestone 
in the village of Germantown, stipulating to put it in the same state 
they found it (if required) at the expiration of said term. That they 
have purchased from Mr. James Stokes the iron doors belonging to the 
vault of the late Bank of the United States in Germantown. That they 
have employed masons and carpenters to make the necessary alterations 
which they expect will be completed by the 23d inst. The report was 
adopted and the committee continued." 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 339 

The following members of the Board were present at the 
first of the meetings referred to : 

Samuel Harvey Richard Bayley 

Peter Robeson George Bensell 

John Johnson Edward Russell 

William R. Rodman Robert Adams 

Samuel Johnson Conrad Carpenter 

John Ragers Charles J. Wister 

The old minute book contains many interesting items. At 
one time there was a discussion in regard to employing a watch- 
man for the bank. The discussion terminated in passing the 
following brief but expressive resolution : 

"Resolved, That we employ a watchman to sleep in the bank." 

No. 5506. (Ward and Hotchkin, No. 4806.) The original 
part of this house was, in all probability, built by Heivert Papen 
prior to 1707. His heirs sold the place to Griffith Jones in 1720, 
and March 29, 1727, Griffith Jones sold it to "Hans George 
Bensel, weaver," the purchase including all the property to 
School Lane. (See account given in connection with the cor- 
ner property.) Mr. Bensell died in 1763, and in the partition 
of his estate this property went to his wife Barbara for life, 
then to his son Charles for life, and then to Engle, the son of 
Charles Bensell. This was one of the properties belonging to 
Engle Bensell which he left, at his death, to his brother George. 
(Will Book No. I, p. 340.) 

It is a curious fact that although Engle Bensell died in 
1805, in the tax list of 1809 he is still recorded as the owner 
of this property. 

June 3, 1829, one-half moiety in the property was sold by 
the Sheriff to satisfy a mortgage held by the Bank of German- 
town. The record reads as follows : 

"For $970 sold at Bowen's Hotel, sign of the King of Prussia, on 
Thursday, October 9th, at 10 A. M., to Jonathan Fowle, sold as the 
property of George Bensell dec'd, Mary Bensell, Jonathan Robeson, 
executor of the Bensells." (Sheriff's Deed Book E, p. 301.) 

December 31, 1832, Anna B. Fowle, administratrix of Jona- 
than Fowle, conveyed the property to John Jones. (Deed Book 
A. M., No. 30, p. 621.) 

May 22, 1840, John Jones, surgeon, and wife, conveyed the 
property to Abraham Rex. (Deed Book G. S., No. 5, p. 442.) 



340 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOWN 

August 27, 1842, Abraham Rex, druggist, and wife, con- 
veyed it to William Hodgson, Jr., druggist, and Richard Rich- 
ardson, for $1425. (Deed Book G. S., No. 4s, p. 373-) 

April 12, 1869, William Hodgson and others conveyed it to 
Annie E. Patton, wife of W. W. Patton, paperhanger. (Deed 
Book J. T. 0., No. 235, p. 217.) 

It is traditional that the State offices of Pennsylvania were 
located in this house during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. 
(See the extract from Watson's Annals given in connection 
with No. 5504.) Watson says these offices were "in the stone 
house next above B. Lehman's." This was the next stone 
house hclozv (that is, toward Philadelphia) B. Lehman's, and it 
is probable that Watson's use of the word above was either an 
inadvertence, or else he employed it in a sense different from 
that in which we use it. 

Early in the nineteenth century a Quaker named Benjamin 
Davis resided here and had a school for girls in the house. 
During the occupancy of Mr. Davis the Germantown Library 
was located in this house under his charge, having been trans- 
ferred from the Academy building. Later on it was removed 
to the building on the corner. 

Some twenty years ago, just before her death, the mother 
of John Wister, of Belfield, called upon the present owner one 
day and asked to be shown a particular room in the house. She 
said that when a little girl she had attended school there. She 
pointed out the place where she used to sit, and also the loca- 
tion of the teacher's desk. 

The property came into the possession of the present 
owner, W. W. Patton, in 1869, and was then quite ancient in 
appearance and much out of repair. A pent-house extended 
along the entire front. Before moving in Mr. Patton had a 
number of alterations made that greatly changed its appear- 
ance. The pent-house was removed and a mansard roof took 
the place of the old one which was dilapidated. At one time 
this house communicated with the one below. The framework 
of the old doorway may still be seen in a closet on the south 
side of the front room, but the doorway itself was walled up 
at the time the Bank was built. Something over thirty years 
ago, in making some alterations, a large chimney on the southern 
end of the house was torn down clear to the foundations. AMien 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOJVN 



341 



the workmen reached the cellar they uncovered a sort of pocket 
in the wall which contained papers and other articles. The 
papers were unfortunately destroyed before Air. Patton knew 
of the finding, but he recovered a soldier's gauntlet, a toy 
whip, a toy brush, and a small wooden hammer. 

There are many things which indicate the ancient character 
of this house. In the very early days of the settlement it was 
customary, in plastering houses, to mix chopped hay or straw 
with the plaster for the purpose of binding it together, just as 




SO-CAL,LED "INDIAN HEAD/" 5506 GERMANTOWN AVENUE. 



we now use hair for the same purpose. The plastering ni this 
house is of that character. The "Rock House," on Penn Street, 
shows the same peculiarity. The laths are all made of split 
wood, and in fastening them, in order to save nails which were 
expensive in those days, the ends of the laths were chamfered 
(or beveled) and then, by lapping the end of one lath over the 
next, a single nail could be made to fasten both. 

In the upper part of the north wall may be seen a remark- 
able specimen of crude sculpture in the shape of a human head. 



342 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

The tradition runs that it was found in 1707, while digging the 
cellar for the house, and was built into the wall at that time. 
A close examination will convince one that it was certainly 
placed in its present position at the time the wall was built. 
It has been called an Indian head, but the features do not 
appear to be those of an Indian. The material is soapstone. 
By whom and for what purpose the figure was executed will 
probably always remain a mystery. The nose has been broken 
ofif. A very old resident of Germantown, who once lived next 
door, states that he was with the crowd of boys by whom this 
mischief was done, nearly seventy years ago. They had all 
been throwing stones at the head for some time Avith little suc- 
cess, until finally one of them threw a large stone with great 
force, breaking the nose. Thoroughly frightened at their un- 
expected success, the mischievous urchins took to their heels. 
John Wister had a painting of this house as it originally 
appeared. It is believed that this painting is still in existence. 

No. 5508-10. (Old number, 4808.) Jacob Emhardt pur- 
chased this property of Michael Riter in 1810, and occupied it 
as his residence until 1866, when he sold it to George Ashmead. 
It is now owned by Dr. William Ashmead Schaeffer. 

Jacob Emhardt was a tailor who came from Mehringen, 
Germany, in 1806. He was the head of a society that left Ger- 
many on account of religious persecution. For many years 
after his arrival the emigrants who came to Germantown from 
that part of Germany were accustomed to make his house their 
headquarters. Most of these people eventually settled at 
Blooming Grove, Lycoming County. When they came over 
they brought with them great trunks covered with rawhide, 
finished with the hair on. In these trunks, together with other 
property, could usually be found a feather bed. On account ot 
the large number of these emigrant visitors it was not unusual 
for Mrs. Emhardt to make coffee for them in her wash boiler. 
So numerous were they that a large barn on the premises was 
frequently filled with them. This barn was accidentally de- 
stroyed by fire in 1850, caused by Albert F. and William H. 
Emhardt setting fire to a pile of shavings while playing with 
matches, at a time when their mother was in the city. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 343 

KING OF PRUSSIA INN 

Nos. 5516-18-20. (Ward and Hotchkin, Nos. 4512-14-16.) 
This old building has had a varied history and has undergone 
many changes. It was built about 1740-41, but its early his- 
tory is not definitely known. The first knowledge that we 
have in regard to its use as a public house is contained in the 
following advertisement from thePennsylvania Gazette, of Decem- 
ber 15th, 1757: 

"Andrew Weckeser begs leave to inform the Publick, that he has 
opened a House of entertainment in Germantown, at the Sign of the 
King-of-Prussia, near John Jones's, Esq., where all Gentlemen, Ladies, 
Travellers, etc., may depend on the best usage. Their favors will be 
gratefully acknowledged by their humble Servant. 

ANDREW WECKESER." 

At a later period it was kept by Alexander Carraher. 

Frederick the Great. King of Prussia, at that time had about 
reached the zenith of his fame. He had become very popular 
in America because of his long struggle against the combina- 
tions of Russia, Austria and France, and his final triumph over 
them. Several inns, of which this was one, were named after 
him. The village of King of Prussia, about three miles west 
of Norristown, received its name from its old hotel. Thomas 
Vapault kept the place after Carraher, and he was succeeded 
by Michael Riter who had previously kept the Indian Queen 
Hotel. It was in his time that Jacob Coleman began to run 
"the first stage coach with an awning" from the King of Prussia 
Inn to the George Inn, at Second and ^Mulberry (Arch) Streets. 
This was cjuite a popular enterprise, as three trips a week were 
made. How amusing all this seems to-day when we consider 
the present enormous amount of travel by means of railroad 
and trolley cars between Germantown and the central part 
of the city. A trip between Philadelphia and Germantown was 
a serious undertaking in the early days, of whose difficulty 
those who are now whirled rapidly over the route have little 
conception. Naglee's Hill was much dreaded, not only because 
of its steepness, but also on account of the bad roads at its foot, 
the ground being very marshy. There were other bad places 
near Nicetown and Rising Sun. 

For many years the King of Prussia was the most popular 
hotel in Germantown. It was a favorite stopping place for 
driving parties from the city, and was much in demand for the 



344 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOWN 

holding of important public meetings. The meetings of some 
of the Fire Companies were held there, as were also some of 
the meetings of the Masonic fraternity. 

The following advertisement from the Pennsylvania Journal 
and Weekly Advertiser of Wednesday, May i, 1776, seems to in- 
dicate that the property changed hands about that period. 

"To be LET and entered on directly. 
The Noted Tavern in Germantown, the KING PRUSSIA 
with 8 acres land, greatest part of which is 
orchard, with barn, stables, shade, &c., &c.. Enquire 
of Paul Cox, in Front-street, below Walnut-street. 

N. B. None need apply but what would keep tavern." 

The new owner must have been subjected to great tribula- 
tion, for the British took possession of the property at the time 
they occupied the town. They used for a slaughter house a 
long barn that formerly stood in the rear. About a century 
after the Revolution, while repairing the roof, a carpenter found 
a brass musket ball embedded in a rafter on the west side of 
the house — the one next to the lower sash jamb of the north- 
ern dormer window. Its location was a little over four feet 
above the garret floor. Nothing certain is known as to how 
the ball came there, although several theories have been formed. 
From its position it would seem as though the shot was fired 
from the outside at some one standing at the window. This 
has led some to suppose that an American sharpshooter may 
have fired it at an English soldier who chanced to show him- 
self at that spot. A colonial coat was also found between the 
rafters, but it fell apart on being handled. The buttons, how- 
ever, were preserved. 

In 1795, Gilbert Stuart, the famous artist, stopped for 
a while at the Inn, and it was one of his eccentric impulses to 
paint for the place a sign adorned with an equestrian figure of 
Frederick the Great, the King of Prussia. There was an under- 
standing, however that the artist's name was not to be made 
known. But such a secret could not be easily kept for a long 
time, and this gradually leaked out. The circumstance added 
considerably to the popularity of the hotel in after years. A 
number of paintings, also supposed to have been executed by 
Stuart, are on the walls of the north end of the first floor. They 
are Pennsylvania scenes, embracing views in the Allegheny 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOIVN 



345 



Mountains, along the Wissahickon. and in old Germantown. 
They are now all covered with wall paper. 

According to Shoemaker, the place belonged to the Taylor 
estate in 1809. Between 1825 and 1838 the various circuses 
and other shows that came along, held their exhibitions on the 
hotel grounds. Some important political mass meetings were 
also held there. 




G-BOSWELI, 



OLD SIGN OF KING OP PRUSSIA HOTEL. 



Michael Riter became the proprietor after Jacob Tripler, 
and about 1823 he was followed by Abraham Schrack. The 
last named concluded to have the sign renovated, as it was 
getting rather dingy in appearance, so fancy mouldings and 
hangers were attached, the work of the artist covered with a 
thick coat of paint, and the words "King of Prussia, A. Schrack, 
1830," displayed upon it. G. Boswell was the next proprietor. 



346 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

He tacked a piece of tin over Schrack's name and painted his 
own in its place. It was so neatly done that the substitution 
can scarcely be discovered. About 1838 the place ceased to be 
a public house, and was occupied by Charles F. Ashmead, who 
kept a grocery store in the southern end. 

A frame portion extended over the driveway at the south- 
ern end of the building. The places where the joists were in- 
serted in the walls can still be plainly seen. The room above 
the driveway was used as a billiard room at the time the 
house was occupied as a hotel. Entrance to this was had by 
means of an outside stairway at the back; it was also accessible 
from the second story of the hotel. After the grocery store 
was established, this driveway became to some extent a place 
of storage. Along the wall were ranged the grocer's pickle 
and mackerel barrels, also his barrels of sand — a commodity 
then usually sold by grocers, and one for which there was a 
considerable demand, it being in general use for spreading on 
kitchen floors. In this driveway, too, the boys of the neigh- 
borhood not unfrequently congregated to smoke their cheap 
cigars — "commons" being sold at the rate of three or four for 
a cent. "half-Spanish" at two for a cent, and "sixes" at a cent 
apiece. It was considered rather a mark of extravagance to 
indulge in "sixes." "Commons" were rank and strong, but 
were quite popular. There was always a box of them on the 
counter of the grocery, from which the customers were privi- 
leged to help themselves. They sold for sixteen to eighteen 
cents per hundred. 

In those days it was quite a common occurrence for a 
youngster on his way to school to leave the molasses jug at 
the grocer's to be fillled, and to be called for on his way home. 
It took too much time to wait, for the old-time molasses was 
thick and hard to move at the best of times, but especially in 
cold weather. 

After Mr. Ashmead vacated the grocery, that part of the 
building was occupied by the Germantown Library for several 
years. In 1864-5 ^ French lady conducted a school in the same 
place. From 1865 to 1885, the north end was occupied by Miss 
Horstman. During the winter of 1889-90 the family of the late 
Lewis C. Cassidy, Attorney-General of Pennsylvania, lived there. 
Afterward it was occupied by Dr. George W. Williams. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 349 

Notwithstanding the many changes that have been made 
in its appearance, both internal and external, the building re- 
tains many of its old time features. In its erection split lath 
were used ; these were fastened with hand-wrought nails which 
were expensive, hence it became a matter of importance to be 
economical in their use. In order to save nails the lath were 
chamfered at the ends, and one nail was then used to hold two 
laths. In making the partitions, the laths were interwoven like 
basket work. At the posts a cleat was nailed across the ends 
of the lath to hold them in place. The interstices were filled in 
with clay and afterwards plastered. In later years the walls 
were papered. The brass door knockers, the wrought iron 
latches, and the carved mantels still remain. In the north front 
cellar, which was, in former times, a basement kitchen, is a large 
fire-place, with an iron crane upon which pots and kettles used 
to be hung over the fire, but it is now so covered with rust 
that it cannot be moved. On the north side of the cellar, a door 
leads to a vault in which provisions were kept at the time when 
the building was a hotel. A large doorway, with broad stone 
steps, leads from it to the yard above. In the rear, extending 
almost the entire length of the building, is a broad veranda. 

The property is now owned by Dr. William Ashmead 
Schaefifer, and the building is divided into two dwellings and a 
store. 

CHRISTIAN LEHMAN HOUSE 

No. 5524. (Ward( Hotchkin and Shoemaker. No. 4818.) 
lliis old stone house, standing back from the street, is prob- 
ably best known to the people of Germantown as "Christian 
Lehman's." Ward says: "At some time in the last century, 
one Jones, a Friend, lived in it, but afterward it was occupied 
by Christian Lehman, a man of considerable note in the affairs 
of Germantown. He was a son of Godfryd, grandson of George, 
and great-grandson of Henry Lehman. The latter was born 
about the year 1535, and became "Steward of the Revenues" 
of the Manor of the Borough of Trebgeh, eight English miles 
from Dresden. Christian Lehman was born in Germany in 1714, 
and in 1731, with his father, came here with a "passport on parch- 
ment, elegantly engrossed with golden ink." The passports of 
the first German emigrants were usually of this character. In 
those early days there was considerable work for a land sur- 



350 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



veyor m and about Germantown, and to this occupation Chris- 
tian Lehman early turned his attention. 

In this respect his name frequently appears in connection 
with Germantown properties. One of his most important services 
was the preparation of maps of Germantown. Some of these 
were copies of maps made by Matthias Zimmerman between 
1700 and 1740. His road map is according- to a survey made 
by Nicholas Scull, Surveyor General, in 1751. A number of 
his maps are original; among these are maps of the Upper and 




CHRISTIAN LEHMAN'S HOUSE 



Lower Burying Grounds, Market Square, and Potter's Field. 
Too much reliance should not be placed, however, upon the 
spelling of names upon these maps, as they will be found to 
vary considerably. This is not wonderful when we consider 
the many transformations which the family names of some of 
the early settlers have undergone. In those days, too, there 
was not a strict regard for consistent or accurate spelling. 
Deeds and papers drawn up by Mr. Lehman are models of ex- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 351 

cellent penmanship, and were evidently made with the greatest 
care. 

Air. Lehman was also actively engaged in the nursery busi- 
ness. He early recognized the importance of advertising his 
stock of "choice fruit trees and plants," as his advertisement 
appears in the Pennsylvania Chronicle of 1768. He is especially 
noted for having introduced English walnut trees into German- 
town. 

In common with most of the early German emigrants, he 
was a strong believer in the occult sciences. 

"The Germans of that day, and indeed many of the English, 
practised the casting of nativities — and as this required mathe- 
matical and astronomical learning, it often followed that such 
a competent scholar was called 'a fortune teller.' Doctor Witt 
'cast nativities,' and he was called a conjurer, while Christopher 
Lehman, who was a scholar and a friend of Witt, and could 
'cast nativities,' and did them for all of his nine children, but 
never for hire, was called a notary public, a surveyor, and a 
gentleman." (Watson's Annals, Vol. 2, p. 22.) 

Benjamin Lehman succeeded his father, and is recorded as 
owning the place in 1809. He carried on an extensive lumber 
business. In 1849 he built the large double house on the front 
of the property (Nos. 5528-30). 

Nos. 5528-30. (Old numbers, 4828-30.) On the site of this 
large double house which was built by Benjamin Lehman in 
1849, formerly stood two small buildings. About 183 1 one of 
these was occupied by Leonard Benkert. He afterward re- 
moved to the city, where he acquired a widely spread reputa- 
tion for the making of shoes of an excellent quality. His son, 
George Felix, who became a noted pianist, was born while the 
Benkerts were living in this house. 

The other house was occupied by Frederick Gutekunst, a 
■cabinet maker, and here, in September, 183 1, was born his son 
Frederick, now so well known throughout the country for his 
skill in photographic portraiture. In one of these buildings 
Sarah Carter kept a school in 1835. 

In the construction of the present building, Benjamin Leh- 
man was very particular in his choice of lumber. It was his 
custom to select choice pieces from the stock as it came into 
•his yard, and lay them away to become properly seasoned. 



352 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

This was continued until he had sufficient to build his house. 
The roof, which was of selected cedar shingles, lasted for more 
than half a century. Thomas Wright, the builder, who as an 
apprentice helped to lay the roof, renewed it something more 
than fifty years afterward. 

Benjamin Lehman's lumber yard was formerly situated 
on the rear of this lot, but it was destroyed by fire in 1833. 
This fire was long remembered on account of its dangerous 
character. So perilous was the situation at one time that it 
was thought much of the surrounding property would be de- 
stroyed. A call was made for assistance, and several fire com- 
panies from Philadelphia responded. At that time the engines 
had to be supplied from the neighboring wells, and so vigor- 
ously did the firemen work that the wells were all soon pumped 
dry. Abraham Schrack then kept the King of Prussia Inn, and 
he sold peach brandy to the firemen. It was carried to them 
in the leather fire buckets. During the progress of the fire a 
most lamentable accident occurred. John Bruner, son of Cap- 
tain Henry Bruner, who lived at what is now No. 5537 Ger- 
mantown Avenue, placed his hand upon a post just as Captain 
Albert Ashmead, of the Middle Ward Fire Company drove his 
axe into it. Bruner's hand was completely severed by the 
blow, and he died from the effects of it. . 

The yard was afterward re-established, and Benjamin Leh- 
man was succeeded by his nephew, James T. Langstreth, who, 
about i860, moved the yard to the rear of No. 5614. It ex- 
tended to Greene Street. The firm then became Ashmead and 
Langstreth, and they were succeeded by Theodore Langstreth. 
Benjamin Lehman occupied the lower end of the house until 
his death, and then his wife, Catharine (whose maiden name 
was Fry), succeeded to the property. It extends through to 
Greene Street. Benjamin and Catharine Lehman had a large 
family of children, but only one — Hannah Keziah — survived 
infancy. She married wStephen Benton, whom she survives, and 
is the present owner of the property. 

There is still standing on the rear of the place an old barn 
in which William Ashmead tried to conceal his cow at the time 
the British occupied the town. Most of the inhabitants had 
taken the precaution of removing their most valuable property, 
and especially their horses and cattle, to places of safety be- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM ANT 01 FN 



353 



yond the British Hues. ]\Ir. Ashmead thought he could suc- 
cessfully hide his cow in the cellar of the barn, but he forgot 
that the animal had a voice, and her bawling soon revealed her 
whereabouts, whereupon, the soldiers, with much laughter, soon 
secured the prize. At that time the headquarters of General 
Howe were at the Morris house, and Air. Ashmead's cow was 
awarded the honor of furnishing the supply of milk for the 
General's table. 




HARRIET LIVERMORE 



Harriet Livermore, the gifted but eccentric evangelist of 
a past generation, frequently preached in Germantown, and on 
the occasion of her visits she was accustomed to make her home 
with the family of Benjamin Lehman. 

It was to her that the poet Whittier referred in "Snow- 
bound," as 

"A not unf eared, half-welcome guest." 



354 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

She was undoubtedly a woman of great natural ability, and 
intensely devoted to the advocacy of her religious views, but 
extremely eccentric withal. She unfortunately possessed a hasty 
and ungovernable temper which obscured her great talents and 
better qualities. It is said that she fell in love with Moses Eliot, 
a young surgeon who served during the war of 1812. He re- 
ciprocated her affection, but realizing that no permanent happi- 
ness could result from a union with one of so violent a temper, 
he went South and soon afterward died there of yellow fever. 
After his death she became more than ever devoted to religious 
matters, and embracing the doctrines of the Second Adventists, 
she became intensely impressed with the idea that it was her 
duty to proclaim the speedy coming of the Lord in all lands. 
Her eloquence and personal magnetism were remarkable, and 
wherever she went she invariably attracted large audiences. 
She believed our Indians were remnants of the lost tribes of 
Israel and at one time she went on a mission to them. Later 
on she became the friend and companion of Lady Hester Stan- 
hope, and lived with her on Mount Lebanon, in Syria. They 
finally separated in consequence of a quarrel about the use of 
the "holy horses" which Lady Stanhope kept waiting in the 
stables for the Lord's use when he should ride to Jerusalem at 
the time of his second coming. A friend of Whittier's found 
Miss Livermore, when quite an old woman, wandering with a 
tribe of Arabs in Syria. 

Her relatives had disowned and disinherited her, and as 
her religious convictions prevented her from acquiring property, 
she became peniless and homeless in her old age. She died in 
Philadelphia, at the Blockley Almshouse, March 30th, 1868, and 
was buried in the ground of the Dunker Church, on German- 
town Avenue, above Sharpnack Street. In accordance with her 
desire, no stone marks her place of burial. She lies by the side 
of her unfailing friend, Margaret Worrell. 

Whittier's verse indicates that he recognized the contradic- 
tory sides of her strange nature, and it was a kindly blessing 
that he wished her in the lines : 

"Where'er her troubled path may be, 
The Lord's sweet pity with her go!" 

No. 5527. (Old number, 4805.) This is upon the site of a 
small one-story frame building that was built against the De la 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



355 



Plaine house. It was occupied about 1848 by the Gerraantown 
Mutual Fire Insurance Company. This company was organized 
in 1843. In 1846 they rented from Wyndham H. Stokes a build- 
ing situated where Stokes's block now stands. In 1847 they 
rented of Benjamin Lehman one of the small buildings that 
stood opposite Armat Street. In 1848 they removed to No. 
5527, then owned by Charles M. Stokes ; here they remained 
until they built upon the corner of Armat Street. The build- 
ing was subsequently considerably altered and occupied by the 
Mechanics' Library. The present building was erected by 
Edward Potterton 




•t ' ft flpti «) » 



^Siw^;/: 



J 



"THE PINES" 



Nos. 5531-33. An old building back of what is called the 
Germantown Market House was the residence of the children 
of Charles Stokes in 1840. It received the name of "The Pines," 
from three large hemlock trees that stood in front of the house. 
In 185 1 Benjamin Lehman lived in it. Thomas Magarge, teller 
of the Germantown Bank, also once resided there. The store 
property on the front was built by William L. Clower, and was 
occupied by him as a meat and provision store. For a short 
time he used the old house as a residence, but afterward as a 
domicile for his employees ; it is now a store house. 



356 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

Edward Potterton, who, for many years, was in the crockery 
business at No. 5527, started business in front of the old Stokes 
house. He was accustomed to arrange his wares along the 
picket fence, turning the pitchers and mugs upside down on the 
pickets. Bowls and dishes were arranged on a long shelf. 

No. 5535. This was built in 1868 by Henry Stutz, on what 
was the driveway to the house above. 

Nos. 5537-39. (Ward, Hotchkin and Shoemaker, No. 4813. 
Old numbers, 4809-11.) On account of the date, 1804, on the rain 
spout, it has been supposed that this house was erected in that 
year, but a deed dated November loth, 1795, mentions a house 
in the transfer. This may refer to the rear portion of the pres- 
ent building, possibly, which is very old. The stone walls of 
this part are very heavy, and in one place they are hollow, the 
space left being sufHciently large for a child to crawl through 
from one closet to another. It has also the old-fashioned half- 
door, a style that was quite common in the early houses erected. 
The back part has a sloping roof that projects over the door. 
This back portion has no cellar under it. If it were not for the 
absence of a cellar, we might infer that it was at one time a 
farm house on the estate of James De la Plaine. The following 
deeds relating to the property are of interest in this connection : 

DEED. — June 2S, 1775. James Delaplaine and Ann liis wife conveyed 
to Joseph Ferree and Sarah his wife and daughter of James Delaplaine, 
certain messuages and ground situated on Main street and Market 
Place, bounded by the said Main Street, Market Place, the German 
Reformed Church, Mill Street, Shoemaker's Mill Dam and lands of 
Daniel Mackinet and Jacob Summers, respectively, containing twelve 
acres more or less. (Deed Book I, Vol. 14, p. 479.) 

The property was divided and the following deed refers 
to the property now Nos. 5535, 5537 and 5539: 

DEED. — November 10, 1795, Joseph Ferree and Sarah, his wife, con 
veyed to John Fromberger, a certain stone messuage or tenement and 
lot or place of land thereunto belonging. (Deed Book D, No. 54, p. 134.) 

DEED. — September 1, 1796, John Fromberger, merchant, and Ann, 
his wife, to John Salter, Jr., shop keeper. 

John Salter, Jr., sold the property to Jacob Roset, who 
owned it until 181 1, so that if the front part of the building 
was erected in 1804, it was done during Roset's ownership. 
Alany have supposed that Jacob Roset and Jacques Marie Roset 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOIVN 357 

were one and the same person, but this cannot be the case, as 
the latter did not take up his residence in Germantown until 
1821. 

]\Iarch 25, 181 1, Jacob Roset and wife conveyed the prop- 
erty to Joseph and Jacob Green. {Deed Book J. C, No. zj, 
p. '366.) ' 

Joseph and Jacob Green carried on the hat business for 
several years. November i, 1866, Catharine Green, William 
Green and Charles W. Otto, executors of the estate of John 
Green, conveyed the property to Henry Stutz. 

Henry Stutz opened a wine house here. Wine was served 
on tables in the old fashioned parlor. After a time he closed 
out the wine business and opened a store for furnishing shoe 
findings, as shoemaking was once an important industry of 
Germantown. This he also gave up and went into the hard- 
ware business. 

Among the changes Air. Stutz made in the place was the 
tearing out of the old corner fire-places and chimneys. He did 
this because of the great amount of room which they occupied. 

Henry Stutz transferred the property to his son, Henry 
Stutz, Jr., who sold it to the present owner, George W. Wills. 

No. 5541. (Old number, 4813.) Around this immediate 
vicinity cluster numerous interesting associations connected 
with "old-time" Germantown. In the second house above this, 
in 1804, Robert Thomas, the father of the venerable Robert 
Thomas, of No. 6109 Germantown Avenue, established the shoe 
business. It was afterward removed to this building. Among 
Air. Thomas's apprentices was David Bowman, who married 
his daughter and succeeded to the business in 1825. Joseph 
Murter and Samuel Collom, both of whom are still living, were 
apprentices of Mr. Bowman's. The property afterward came 
into the possession of Robert Cherry, who was a son-in-law of 
Air. Bowman. The place is now the men's department of 
Cherry's store. In front stands the old six-milestone, which, 
says Hotchkin, "by reason of the city growing toward German- 
town, was changed in 1840 to five miles" (5 to P). This really 
means five miles to Laurel Street, the terminus of Germantown 
Road. These measures are only approximate, as they were 
made by going over the ground with a marked wheel. When 



358 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

the stone was planted in 1801, it indicated the distance to Mar- 
ket Street, which was then the center of the city. 

No. 5543. (Shoemaker, No. 4815.) Upon this site the 
bakery of David and Wilham Meredith stood in 1809, the first 
named being the owner. The present building was erected by 
Robert Cherry, and it now forms part of his store. At the 
time when the Meredith building was standing, there was an 
alleyway between this and the house above. The ovens were 
beneath this, as Meredith's deed called for land to the north 
side of the alley. His neighbor, Robert Thomas, had a room 
that extended over the alley to the Meredith house, as his deed 
called for ground to the house line of Meredith. The alley-way 
was held in common. The Merediths baked bread for both the 
American and British armies prior to and during the battle of 
Germantown. The old ovens used then were torn out by 
Robert Cherry more than twenty years ago. No. 5545 occupies 
the site of the alley-way referred to. 

No. 5547. Robert Thomas lived here and kept a shoe store. 
The place was afterward successively occupied as a general 
store by Jacob Senseman, William G. Spencer, Abraham Birch 
and Frank D. Heyman. Joseph Vanderslice occupied it as a 
grocery store after he moved from the corner of School Lane 
in 1867. After this it was occupied by Bradley, and then by 
Robert Hurst as a confectionery. The present building was 
erected by Robert Cherry in 1904. 

No. 5549. In 1840 the owner of this was David Harmer, 
a shoemaker. It was afterward the dwelling of Edward T. 
Jones. For many years it was Frank Lutz's cigar and tobacco 
store. It has lately been much altered in appearance. 

No. 5553. A family named Miller lived in an old house 
that once stood upon this site. The mother's name was Betsy 
Miller, and she had three children — Peter, Elizabeth and Cassie. 
Elizabeth married Henry Troutman and they lived in the rear 
part of the house. He was a corporal in the "Germantown 
Blues." The company was called out on Sunday morning, 
July 7tli, 1844, to aid in quelling the riots then raging in Phila- 



Mil I'l'i'i'''' 




HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 361 

delphia. He was killed and his body was brought home on 
Monday night. Cassie Miller continued to live in this house 
until she was quite an old woman, supporting herself by knit- 
ting socks. She was noted for her peculiarities which were the 
cause of much annoyance to her at the hands of the children 
of the neighborhood. It was one of her customs to always 
wear a sun bonnet, whether in-doors or out. It was another 
of her peculiar fancies to always stand by a small window when 
she was knitting or sewing. The present building was built 
by Edward T. Jones, and is now occupied by his daughters. 

No. 5555. This is the site of an old log house that once 
stood on Market Square, and was used as the prison of the 
borough. It was built in 1741, and stood at the east corner of 
the square. In the history of Market Square an account has 
been given of the confinement of Adam Hogermoed in this 
prison and his subsequent purchase of it. He removed the 
building to this locality and was occupying it as a residence 
about 1807. Later it became "Peggy" Wolf's candy shop. The 
present building was erected about 1856. by Henry Giese, a 
tailor. It was afterward occupied successively by Irvin C. 
Moore, tailor; \Y. W. Patton, paperhanger, and David Boggs, 
a teacher. The sisters of the last named kept a trimming store. 
The building has recently been remodeled and enlarged. 

In Edwin S. Stuart's edition of W^atson's Annals is a pic- 
ture of the old prison after its removal and use as a dwelling. 
It is also the first picture in Hotchkin's "Ancient and Modern 
Germantown." Referring to this picture is an article in Wat- 
son's Annals, Vol. 2, p. 606, of the edition of 1857. It reads as 
follows : 

"LOG PRISON AND ANCIENT GROUP OF HOUSES IN GERMAN- 
TOWN. The picture which we have given of the last of the old houses 
still remaining in Germantown, — now belonging to the family of John 
Green, presents a picturesque group, and stands in interesting contrast 
with many modern houses built there. These houses seem to have been 
built at several interesting periods. The front house on the right of the 
picture, now faced with white mortar, is the original Log House. It was 
brought and placed there, as the dwelling house of John Adams Hoger- 
moed, who had before passed a night in it — for some occasion of intem- 
perance, while it occupied the Market Square as the Prison. When it 
was afterwards sold, the same Hogermoed became the owner. One of 
the higher houses in the rear, it may be seen, is diagonally boarded. 
The whole group seems to be formed of four different constructions — a 



362 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

part is of stone. All such remains of the primitive times, are fast fading 
from the things that be." 

The point of view in the picture is from Germantown Ave- 
nue and Armat Street, looking down the Avenue. To the left 
of the centre may be seen the spire of the church on Market 
Square, and on the extreme right is the Bensell house at the 
corner of School House Lane. 

No. 5559- This frame building, built about 1820, was 
Thomas Marple's private house. 

ARMAT STREET (East from No. 5600) 

This was opened through Armat's meadow. 

No. 5601. The ground upon which this building stands 
was formerly a part of Armat's meadow, and was considerably 
lower than the grade of the street. About 1854, the Mutual 
Fire Insurance Co. erected a building upon the lot. It stood 
somewhat back from the street and had a small yard in front. 
They afterward built a brownstone front that extended to the 
street line. The Mutual Fire Insurance Co. was organized in 
1843, ^i^cl ^t first the office was in a small frame building that 
was on the north side of Charles Stokes's (De la Plaine) house. 
In 1844 they moved to the new building on the northwest cor- 
ner of School House Lane. The building on the corner of 
Armat Street was then sold to the Columbia Bank, a branch of 
which was established here. 

MAPLEWOOD AVENUE (West from No. 5600) 

This was opened by Charles Stokes. 

Nos. 5600-12. (Old numbers. 4830-48.) Stokes's block was 
built upon the grounds of Wyndham H. Stokes. In 1809 John 
Moyer lived in a small house on this tract. It stood some dis- 
tance back from the street and had large pillars in front. It 
was torn down at the time Maplewood Avenue was opened. 
There was at one time a tannery where the stores were after- 
wards built. It was on very low ground, and a branch of 
Honey Run flowed through it. This stream received its supply 
from a pond on the site of the First Presbyterian Church and 
a large spring on William Fry's place. Between Armat Street 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOJVN 



363 



and Chelten Avenue the road was so bad that planks were laid 
in order to enable wagons to pass. In building the large sewer 
on Germantown Avenue to drain this territory, about ten 
feet below the surface the workmen unearthed a number of these 
planks. They also came upon an old vat of the tannery with 
one hide still in it. Previous to the building of the large sewer 
the low ground was frequently overflowed. At one time, when 
the water was about knee deep, a large Newfoundland dog 
jumped in for a swim. He was soon caught in the flood and 
sucked into the inlet. The boys who saw the occurrence ran 




HOUSE OF WYNDHAM H. STOKES 



to the outlet of the stream on the Spencer mill property, ex- 
pecting to see a dead dog come out, but presently he made his 
appearance, very wet and thoroughly astonished, but none the 
worse for his extraordinary experience. 

WOODLAWN AVENUE (East from No. 5609) 

This avenue has also been known as Grout's Lane, Stuck- 
ert's Gourt, and Laurel Street. 

Nos. 5611-13. In 1840 this was John Bringhurst's house 
and grocery. It was afterward bought by Gephas Ghilds, edi- 
tor of the "Gommercial List," and converted into a dwelling. 



364 



HISTORY OP OLD GBRMANTOWN 



Dr. Charles King, a dentist, afterward lived there. He built a 
large house (No. 5609) on the corner of Woodlawn Avenue and 
moved into it. 

Nos. 5615-17-19. Walker Hall, occupied by Walker Lodge of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was built upon the 
site of a building that, in 1840, belonged to William Crout, a 
cabinet maker and undertaker. 




5nL/W^L<^M^H. 



No. 5621. (Old number, 4843.) This is upon the site of 
the yard of George Stuckert. There was a house built upon 
the spot about 1818, the last occupant of which was Alexander 
Ballantyne, a jeweler. The present building was erected by 
George Darrow, a dealer in painters' supplies. 

No. 5622. In 1809 this was the house of John Fry, a tin- 
smith. His son, William K. Fry, succeeded him in business. 
He lived with his two maiden sisters. The property extended 
back as far as Knox Street, and "Tinker Fry," as he was called, 
was put to considerable expense and annoyance when Chelten 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



365 



Avenue was cut through, on account of the large amount of 
paving and curbing required, because of his property running 
parallel with the street. He declared, on one occasion, that he 
would willingly pay the city two thousand dollars to be let 
alone. After the street was cut through he was asked why 
he did not improve the corner where his shop was. He replied 




REV. CHARLES KARSNER, M. D. 



that he would not have any building put there, as it would 
obstruct the view from his bedroom window, which was on the 
third floor. It is said that he slept in the attic all his life. The 
floor of his bedroom was destitute of carpet save a single strip 
in front of his bed. When he was taken sick, it was with great 
difficulty that he was persuaded to allow himself to be brought 
to the second floor. He only lived abo;it a week afterward. 
His two sisters had died before him and left him their property. 
At his death he left an estate worth about $150,000. 



366 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



Even now, tinsmiths occasionally find a piece of work that 
William Fry did, and yet he gave up active business about 
1855. He was very particular about the quality of his work, 
and he exacted like care from others about him. On one occa- 
sion he made John C. Lightfoot hunt for nearly a day for two 
locust posts at the lumber yard. These he had set in a certain 
way, and about two feet in the ground. Upon these as a foun- 
dation he built his front steps, and they are standing to-day 
without the slightest sagging or pulling away from the building. 




SOUTHEAST CORNER OF CHELTEN AND GERMANTOWN AVENUES 

Fry had a fine spring on the place, and near it was one of the 
first swamp magnolias planted in the town. 



No. 5623, About 1840 this was the residence of George 
Stuckert. In 1844 he rented it to Thomas W. Evans. During 
the Civil War it was occupied by the Union League of German- 
town. For a number of years prior to 1883 it was the residence 
of Rev. Charles Karsner, M. D., a graduate of both the allo- 
pathic and homeopathic schools of medicine. At the time he 
took up the study of homeopathy in 1859, he was pastor of the 
Haines Street M. E. Church. He relinquished his charge on 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 367 

account of bronchial trouble, but he remained among his par- 
ishioners and built up an excellent practice. 

No. 5624. The old one-story frame shop of the Frys was 
on the site of the drug store at this number. 

No. 5627. (Old number. 4847.) Shoemaker says that in 
1809 Alexander Armor, a carpenter, lived here. For many 
years it was the residence of Dr. Theodore L. Williams, one of 
the earliest homeopathic physicians to practice in Germantown. 
It was afterward occupied by Dr. George ^lalin, another homeo- 
pathic physician. About twenty-five years ago it was pur- 
chased by Uriah Mattis, meat and provision dealer. In 1904 he 
sold the property to the Germantown Trust Company. 

^o- 5^33- The building of the Germantown Trust Co. is 
on the site of Jones's house and feed store. George Herges- 
heimer owned the place in 1840. It was then occupied by the 
Post Ofifice. Jones's old building was of brick, with an inside 
lining of stone. 

EAST CHELTEN AVENUE (No. 5700) 

This was opened in 1855, and was called ^Market Street on 
the first plans. 

In opening East Chelten Avenue, it became necessary to 
tear own a large stone house that, in 1840, belonged to Jesse 
L.arge. In commenting on the tax list of 1809, Shoemaker says: 
"Jacob Fry's property extended from the middle of Chelten 
Avenue south a hundred feet on Germantown Avenue, east 
side. He was a farmer and storekeeper, doing a large business, 
principally wholesale, with the farmers, who brought their pro- 
duce to Germantown to trade for groceries, etc." 

There was a stone wall in front of this place, where the 
"John Dick boys" were accustomed to congregate. Upon one 
occasion, one of their number, Frank Acufif. commonly called 
"Coon" Acuff, got into an altercation with an Irishman who 
was passing by. The latter soon found himself landed on the 
other side of the wall. "Coon" was arrested and taken before 
"Squire" Thomas, who demanded to know the cause of the 
trouble. The Irishman replied: "Boo Hoo ! says I. Boo Hi! 



368 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



says he, and over the fence I goes." The "Squire," knowing 
the reputation of the "John Dick" boys, held "Coon" under 
bail. Joseph Bentz, a baker, agreed to go his bail until his 
father came home in the evening. Just before the train upon 
which the father was expected became due, the boys stationed 
themselves along the street within signaling distance of each 
other, and as soon as it stopped the signal was given and Mr. 




Bentz notified. He at once went to the "Squire" and asked 
for the bail piece, as the boy's father was coming up the street. 
It was given to him, and before the father arrived the boys had 
"Coon" safely away. The father then refused to go his bail. 
As a result of this escapade, the "John Dick" Club had to bear 
the expense of "Coon's" board at some remote place until the 
trouble blew over. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 
WEST CHELTEN AVENUE (No. 5700) 



369 



This street was placed upon the town plan in 1854 by the 
burgesses, under the name of Market Street. It was the site of 
the Kurtz or Barr house. Originally the property belonged to 
the Hookers. Wyndham H. Stokes opened the street and 
thereby greatly offended William Fry. 

The large house that formerly stood on the west side of 
Germantown Avenue where Chelten Avenue now is, was owned 
in the early part of the century by a German named Kurtz. He 
was noted for his eccentricities in dress. His tight fitting 




BARR OR KURTZ HOUSE 



clothes, cocked hat, and peculiar walk gave him a military bear- 
ing. He was always attended by six large dogs. His property 
extended from the Longstreth Building to about where Mitchel 
& Fletcher's store now is, and back to the County line. He 
had sufficient income to enable him to indulge his taste for hor- 
ticulture and botany. Almost every rare tree, plant or shrub 
that he could obtain found its way into his garden. He died 
in 1816, and by 1854 it is said that there was but little trace of 
his trees or his garden. He was a friend of the eccentric 
Mathias Kin, Some of the trees that Kin planted on the Kurtz 



3/0 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

place are still standing. After the death of Kurtz his property 
mostly came into the possession of George Barr, who sold it 
to a party who intended to erect a factory for rendering fat and 
making soap. A large number of citizens protested against 
having a soap factory in the centre of the town, and petitioned 
the burgesses to condemn the property for street purposes. 
This was finally done, and Chelten Avenue (then called Mar- 
ket Street) was placed upon the town plan. 

The small building above the Kurtz place was Miss 
Rooker's School. Mr. Charles J. Wister was at one time a 
pupil there. 

Shoemaker says in regard to the Kurtz property : "Henry 
Kurtz is remembered as wearing small clothes, and being at- 
tended on his walks by six dogs. John Fry had a tin shop on 
a portion of the Kvirtz property, on the corner of the Avenues. 
He was executor for Kurtz and purchased the property, being 
succeeded in business by his son, William K. Fry." 

It must not be understood that John Fry purchased the 
entire Kurtz estate, but only that portion of it on which his 
shop was located. 

Mr, William H. Emhardt has kindly furnished the following 
interesting information in regard to Chelten Avenue : 

"Chelten Avenue, under the name of Market Street, was opened on 
the west side through the Hocker property, which extended from Main 
Street to Morris Street. A double house on Main Street was occupied 
by George Barr, and on the other by William Copestick. A fine orchard 
was on this farm. Beside the barn which stood on Chelten Avenue, 
there was a cider mill, just about in front of where now stands the 
First Presbyterian Church. It was built of stone, and the mortar was 
composed of clay and straw. A fine spring on the north side was filled 
in later with rocks and Portland cement, in order to form a solid foun- 
dation for the front wall of the church. 

"Benjamin L. Langstroth, son of Piscator Langstroth, who married 
a daughter of Benjamin Lehman, purchased the Hocker farm, and 
erected all the buildings, except one on the northwest side of Chelten 
Avenue, to Knox Street. Benjamin L. Langstroth was in the wholesale 
wine and liquor business, in partnership with Count Figuira, who married 
a daughter of Piscator Langstroth. His daughters still own a number 
of Walnut Street properties. Another daughter of Piscator Langstroth 
was married to a Drexel, and was the mother of the present 'Sister 
Katharine.' 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 371 

"The property on the south side of Chelten Avenue, from Main Street 
to half way between Greene Street and Wayne Avenue, belonged to 
William K. Fry, who was a tinsmith. He had the reputation of doing 
only good work, refusing to put on a tin roof if the preparatory work 
was not up to his standard of proper construction. 

"Next adjoining was the property of Wyndham H. Stokes, which 
extended to within a hundred yards west of Wayne Avenue. 

"Next to this was Coulter's seven-acre lot, reaching to what is now 
Pulaski Avenue. This lot was popularly known as 'Horse Heaven,' — it 
being the custom to haul dead horses there, where they speedily became 
food for the crows. 

"Next to this came Stokes's orchard, which extended to the town- 
ship line." 



PART III 

Contributed Articles Relating to 
the History of Germantown 



THE OLD ROBERTS MILL 

(See Frontispiece.) 

For the following interesting sketch we are indebted to the 
courtesy of Mr. Elwood Roberts, of Norristown, a prominent 
member of the Montgomery County Historical Society : 

The old Roberts Mill, for many years one of the oldest 
landmarks of Germantown, was the second oldest in Pennsyl- 
vania, and the grists of several generations of the vicinity were 
ground there. Its location was on the Wingohocking Creek, 
a mile northeast of the [Market Scjuare, in Germantown, on the 
thoroughfare now known as IMill Street, or Church Lane. It 
was erected in 1683, by Richard Townsend, a minister of the 
Society of Friends. He came to America from England in the 
year 1682, being one of the fellow voyagers of AVilliam Penn 
in the "Welcome." He "set up" a grist mill in that year on 
Chester Creek, which was the first in the Province of Pennsyl- 
vania. He brought the material for that structure ready framed 
from London, as he states in a "testimony" which he published 
in 1727, when he was in his eighty-fourth year, he having resided 
nearly forty-six years in the Province. 

As soon as Germantown was laid out, Richard Townsend 
removed to the place, and settled on the tract on which he built 
the mill, and to wdiich, there being but few horses at that time 
in the settlement, the people often brought the bags of grain 
on their shoulders to be ground as food for man or beast, as 
the case might be. Townsend left only one child, a daughter, 
who married a man named Cook, but he had a brother, Joseph 
Townsend, from whom numerous descendants have come. 

The Roberts ^lill was on the north side of ]\Iill Street, or. 
as it was called in earlv times, "The Road to Lukens' jNIill." 
The structure in its considerably altered conditions compared 
with the original building of Richard Townsend, jutted some- 
what into the street. It was torn dow^i in 1874, after being in 
existence for nearly two centuries. The Wingohocking, like 
other streams of the vicinity, became much reduced in volume 
as the land was cleared and more thoroughly cultivated, and it 



Z7^ 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



gradually declined in power until it became comparatively use- 
less as a means of grinding grain. There is a tradition, appar- 
ently well authenticated, as to the origin of the name of the 
creek, that the Indian chief, Wingohocking, was a particular 
friend of James Logan, the intimate associate and counselor of 
Penn, and that, according to the Indian custom, he suggested 




SPENCER ROBERTS 



that they exchange names by way of continuing their friendship. 
Logan answered that the chief might appropriate his name, but 
that he preferred to retain it also and to give the Indian's name 
to the beautiful stream that flowed through his estate. It thus 
became the Wingohocking, although often known in subsequent 
years as Logan's Creek, and occasionally Mill Creek. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 2>77 

The mill passed from Richard Townsend to John Peters, 
who sold it to Matthias Lukens, who left it by will to his son, 
John Lukens, the oldest of his children. December i, 1764, 
Jacob Brown purchased it from the Lukens family. He sold 
it to Nicholas Burkhart. Burkhart having died, the mill prop- 
erty was sold, April i, 1797, to William Holby, from whose 
administratrix. Susanna Holby, it passed, February 16, 181 1, to 
Hugh Roberts. From that time until it was torn down it was 
known as Roberts' Mill, being held in the family up to that time. 
Hugh Roberts was succeeded as owner by his eldest son, Spen- 
cer, when he came of age, as the phrase goes, the elder Roberts 
having died in 1821, when still a young man. His widow, who 
was Sarah Spencer, of an old neighboring family, assisted in its 
management during the minority of the son. The property 
which contained about 33 acres of land, was a valuable farm, 
and later passed to a building and land association, which 
divided it into lots, and the entire tract is now covered with 
ordinary dwellings ; the old Roberts mansion, erected at great 
expense by Hugh Roberts in the "dear" times subsequent to 
the War of 1812, having become dilapidated, it was finally 
demolished to make way for new buildings in 1904. 

Hugh Roberts was the son of Amos and Margaret (Thomas) 
Roberts, and great-grandson of Edward Roberts, the founder 
of the family in America, who came from Wales in 1699, when 
he was twelve years of age, settling at Byberry. and removing 
in 1 716, on his marriage with ]\Iary. daughter of Everhard 
Bolton, of Cheltenham, to Richland, Bucks County, now Oua- 
kertown, where he became a minister of the Society of Friends, 
serving in that capacity for more than forty years. He left a 
large family. 

Spencer Roberts purchased the property at administrator's 
sale for a low price in 1835, and operated it until 1858, when he 
purchased a steam mill at Mill Street and the railroad, from 
Charles Spencer. Many pictures of the historic old structure 
have been preserved, which show it to have been a typical colo- 
nial mill, and it has been often regretted that it could not have 
been saved from destruction. 



THE TOWN OF MANHEIM 

The Alanheim Club grounds are on a part of what was laid 
out by Henry Fraley in 1796 as the town of Manheim. The 
grounds are on the rear part of lot No. 2 "towards the Schuyl- 
kill," drawn in the name of Dirck op de Graeff, and lot No. 3, 
drawn in the name of Abraham op de Graeff. In 1714 lot No. 
2 was held in the name of the widow of op de Graeff, and lot 
No. 3 was in the name of Joseph Shippen, Sr. In 1766 there 
were several owners of lot No. 2, — Hittmer, Shippen and Weid- 
man. The names of Joseph Shippen, Jr., Edward Shippen and 
William Shippen appear at that time as the owners of lot No. 3. 
Joseph Shippen, Jr., must have owned the rear part of both lots 
2 and 3, as in 1796 he is recorded as selling that portion to Henry 
and John Fraley. 

Mr. Charles J. Wister has kindly furnished the following 
interesting account of the locality : 

"My earliest recollection of Manheim, originally named Caernarvon, 
was in my childhood, about seventy-five years ago. It was then a most 
charming, retired country seat, occupied by my aunt, Susanna Wister, 
and my uncle, Col. John Morgan Price. I do not know to whom it be- 
longed originally, although I am under the impression that it was a 
portion of a large tract of land taken up by the Shippen family, for 1 
know that they owned much property in that neighborhood, and that 
several properties on the Township Line (now known as Wissahickon 
Avenue) and Manheim Street, are traced to them in the early settle- 
ment of that part of the country. 

"About the year ISOO, Susanna Wister, daughter of Daniel and 
Lowry Wister, married Col. John Morgan Price and purchased Caernar- 
von, now Manheim. Both of them being of Welsh extraction accounts 
for their selection of a Welsh name for their summer residence. Mr. 
Price had a strong military bias — for he was not a Friend, as was his 
wife — and being a very handsome man and an excellent horseman, he 
made a striking appearance, when mounted, in his uniform. He was 
also much interested in horticulture and in the cultivation of fruit. 
Many of the fruit and ornamental trees at Manheim were planted by 
him — exempli gratia, Virgilia lutia, vulgarly called yellow wood, owing 
to the color of the wood when stripped of its bark. Two of these old 
trees, of gigantic dimensions, still remain along the southeast border 
of the grounds. The effect of these, when covered with long pendant 
racemes of white flowers in early June, is beyond description. The lot 
was intersected by paths bordered with box. The latter had grown so 
large and dense as to almost close the paths. Scattered about the lawn 
were numerous pear trees of old time varieties, such as sickel and but- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 379 

ter, always in abundant bearing in the summer season. Of course all 
these attractions of Caernarvon are gone now; the one object of con- 
verting the lawn into a pleasure ground, where all obstructions were neces- 
sarily removed, having been accomplished in a most masterly manner. 
The old house has also been altered and enlarged so as to accommodate 
It to altered circumstances, but its quaint old hexagonal shape has been 
conscientiously preserved. I must express my acknowledgement to the 
managers of the institution for the good taste they have displayed in 
the preservation of the antique character of Caernarvon, so associated 
with my early days, in converting it from a retired country seat into 
a vast and noted pleasure ground. As the Manheim Club increased in 
popularity and numbers, the extension of the grounds became necessary, 
and adjoining grounds were absorbed in it, one of the most extensive 
properties thus absorbed being that of Mr. John S. Littell. This part 
included an excellent dwelling house which was afterwards used for a 
club house. This house was at one time occupied by Mr. Coleman Fisher 
as his country residence. 

"Col. John Morgan Price did not live to a very advanced age, and 
Mrs. Price survived him many years — her life extending to her ninetieth 
year. I have said that she was accustomed to spend her summers at 
Caernarvon; she, however, generally made a tour of a few weeks with 
her daughter in true old-fashioned style, in a carriage drawn by a pair 
of horses, with her faithful colored servant for her coachman. She was 
among the last, if not the very last, in this part of the country to con- 
tinue this manner of traveling, for railroads and steamboats added nought 
to her accommodation; they were altogether ignored. In this respect 
her prejudices resembled those of her brother, John Wister, of Vernon, 
who, although residing directly opposite a railroad depot, never traveled 
in a railroad car in his long life of eighty-six years. He died in 1869. 

"Mrs. Price was a lady of great dignity of manner and appearance. 
She was a perfect representative of old school stateliness, courtesy and 
hospitality. She was accustomed to spend her winters in the city. 
She died November 29th, 1SG2, and was interred in the burial ground 
of Christ Church, in Philadelphia." 

C. J. WISTER. 
Germantown, 3d mo. 13th, 1903. 

It may be stated that the Price estate was situated at the 
south corner of the Club Grounds. It comprised about one-fifth 
of the present grounds, and belonged to Susan Price in 1871. 
The Ladies' Club House, near the entrance to the groimds, is 
the old Price house. It was standing before the Revolution. 
A new club house for the ladies has recently been erected near 
the large Club House. AVhat was formerly the old barn has 
been fitted up for the Boys' Club House. 

The rest of the grounds belonged to John S. Littell in 1871. 
His old mansion still stands to the right of the Manheim Street 
entrance. It has been claimed that this is the old Fraley house. 



38o HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

The managers are to be commended for preserving these 
historic buildings, notwithstanding all the changes that have 
been necessary in making such vast improvements. 

About the middle of the last century, one of the most in- 
teresting places in this part of Germantown was the nursery 
of Peter Baumann, on Manheim Street. Peter Baumann came 
to Philadelphia as gardener for Stephen Girard. He was after- 
wards employed by Louis Clapier, at Fern Hill, about 1835. 
Soon after this he started in business for himself at Manheim 
Street and Plank Road (now Pulaski Avenue). His nurseries 
extended as far south as what is now Seymour Street. Two 
of his sons, George and Louis, commenced business in the same 
neighborhood. They are now both dead. This nursery of Peter 
Baumann's is said to have been the finest of its time. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE GERMAN REFORMED 
CHURCH AT GERMANTOWN 

An Address Delivered Before the City History Club of 

Philadelphia, May 7, 1903 

By Rev. Prof. William J. Hinke 

You have invited me to speak to you to-night upon the 
history of one of the most ancient and historic organizations 
of Germantown, the old German Reformed Church, which is 
now the Market Scjuare Presbyterian Church of Germantown. 

Allow me to preface my address with the general statement 
that the Reformed Church had its origin in the mighty Refor- 
mation which swept over Europe in the sixteenth century. 
While Martin Luther in Germany started a movement against 
the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church, which led to the 
establishment of the Lutheran Church, other leaders in France, 
Switzerland and Holland began a similar movement which led 
to the founding of the Reformed Church. 

William Farel and John Calvin at Geneva, Ulrich Zwingle 
at Zurich, Frederick the Pious, Elector of the Palatinate ; John 
Knox, Reformer of Scotland ; Admiral Coligny, leader of the 
Huguenots in France ; William the Silent, the founder of the 
Dutch Republic ; Frederick William, the Great Elector of Bran- 
denburg, — these are the names of the great men who have 
established the Reformed Church in Switzerland, Germany, 
France, Holland and Scotland, and whose names live lustrous 
upon the pages of history. 

To the oft-repeated question — What is the Reformed 
Church? — we can now give the satisfactory answer, "It is the 
church to which Theodore Roosevelt, the President of the 
United States, belongs." 

The Reformed Church was brought to America by the Hol- 
landers, when they settled on Manhattan Island in 1623. One 
of the first Governors was Peter Minuit, an elder of the French 
Reformed congregation at Wesel on the Rhine. As Governor 
of New Netherlands, he introduced fair dealing with the Indians 



2>^2 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOIVN 

long before William Penn was born. Afterwards he entered 
the service of the Swedish West India Company, Under its 
auspices he was sent to the Delaware river, where he estab- 
lished the colony of New Sweden in 1638. Here he continued 
the same humane policy towards the Indians, by purchasing" 
from them all the land from Cape Henlopen to the falls of the 
Delaware at Trenton, including the very site on which Phila- 
delphia and Germantown stand to-day. In this territory, thus 
acquired for the Swedish crown, the first Reformed congrega- 
tion was organized in 1654. Rev. John Theo. Polhemus, while 
on his way to New York, organized in that year, the Hollanders 
at Newcastle into the first Reformed congregation which was 



»«?' 







MARKET SQUARE, SHOWING GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH 

established on the west bank of the Delaware River. W^hen 
the colony of Pennsylvania was granted in 1681 by royal charter 
to William Penn, there were not only a considerable number of 
Germans living in the province, but also some who belonged 
to the German Reformed Church. Henry Frey reached America 
about 1680. while a tradition in the Reiff family distinctly as- 
serts that John George ReiiT, the ancestor of the family, came 
to America before the arrival of William Penn. 

Francis Daniel Pastorius says in a letter which I had the 
good fortune to discover in Switzerland, and which is printed 
in Governor Pennypacker's "History of the Settlement of Ger- 
mantown" (pp. 133-151), that among the early settlers were 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 383 

found "some Germans who had already been in this country 
twenty years, namely, people from Schleswig, Brandenburg, 
Holstein and Switzerland." In the same letter he also remarks 
with reference to the ocean trip, "The religious beliefs of the 
passengers and their vocations are so varied that the ship might 
be compared to Noah s Ark. In my company I have fallen in 
with the Romish Church, with the Lutheran, with the Calvinis- 
tic, with the Anabaptist and with the English, and only one 
Quaker." 

Francis Daniel Pastorius arrived at Philadelphia on August 
20, 1683. A few months later, on October 24, 1683, he founded 
Germantown. Let me give you the story in the words of Pas- 
torius himself as he has given it in another letter dated ^larch 
7. 1684, which I discovered at Zurich. He says: "On the 24th 
of October, 1683, I laid out a town, and as it is settled by Ger- 
mans, I have called it Germantown. It is only two hours' walk 
from Philadelphia, and consists of 6000 acres. Twelve families, 
consisting of 42 persons, live there at present very contentedly. 
Most of them are tradesmen and weavers,, for I noticed that 
people could not get along without linen. The main street of 
this town is 60 feet wide, the cross streets are 40 feet. The 
space granted to each house and garden is three acres. For 
my own use I have reserved again as much." The first settlers 
of Germantown could not complain of being squeezed together, 
there was ample room for all. With regard to the religious 
condition of the community, Pastorius says in a later report 
(Geograpliischc Bcschrcibiuig. p. ^4), ''We have built here in Ger- 
mantown, in the year 1686, a small church for the community. 
We did not aim at a large imposing edifice, but rather at build- 
ing the temple of God (which we believers are ourselves). The 
first church of Germantown was therefore built for the commu- 
nity, and not for any particular denomination. 

During the following decade the number of settlers in Ger- 
mantown largely increased. Among them were also some who 
belonged to the Reformed faith. 

In the same ship with Daniel Pastorius came Isaac Dilbeck, 
afterwards a prominent elder of the Reformed Church at White- 
marsh. About 1690 came William De Wees, in whose house 
at Whitemarsh the congregation, organized there in 1725, wor- 
.shipped for many years. 



384 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

Evert Ter Heiiven (now De Haven) came in 1698 from 
Muehlheimer on the Ruhr. He was also a Reformed elder at 
Whitemarsh. Hendrick Pannebecker, the ancestor of Gover- 
nor Pennypacker, who also belonged to the Reformed Church, 
arrived at Germantown at least as early as 1699. Hans Hen- 
drick Meels came in 1701, and John Rebenstock in 1702. These 
were some of the most prominent men, whose connection with 
the Reformed Church is absolutely certain. Other Reformed 
settlers came with or shortly after them, whose names history 
has not transmitted to us. 

During the first three decades no attempt was made by 
the Reformed people, as far as we know, to establish religious 
worship in their midst. The omission was no doubt due to the 
fact that no Reformed ministers were in the province. We 
have no documents to prove that they were ever visited by the 
Dutch Reformed Minister of Newcastle. 

The year 1710 marked a turning point in the history of 
the Reformed people at Germantown. Two ministers arrived. 
through whom the first organization of the German Reformed 
people in the present limits of Pennsylvania was accomplished. 

On September 22, 1710, Rev. Samuel Guldin arrived in 
Philadelphia with his family after a long and dangerous voyage. 
He came from Switzerland. He had been born and educated 
at Berne. In 1696 he was elected assistant minister at the 
Cathedral in Berne, a prominent position, but as he was a revi- 
valist he was compelled to leave Berne in 1699, and some time 
afterward he bade his native country farewell to emigrate to 
the New World. He has left a long and interesting letter 
describing his trip across the ocean. This letter was among the 
papers which I discovered at Berne. It was a dangerous jour- 
ney. Chased for many miles by French warships, they were 
compelled to sail around the northern coast of Scotland to escape 
their enemies. Several storms also threatened their safety. Thus 
he writes on August 17th, 1710: "We could only keep half a 
sail hoisted. The rudder had to be tied securely, and during 
the whole night we had to leave the ship to the mercy of the 
wind and waves. The waves were like mountains, and the ship- 
was sometimes so high that we thought we would capsize, and 
again we went down so deep that it seemed as though we would 
be hurled into the depths. And yet, with all that, I and mv 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 385 

children had no fear, but looked upon the waves from the deck 
of the ship." When the emigrants arrived at Newcastle on Sep- 
tember 20th, 1710, they received a royal welcome. The people 
of the town gave them not only to eat and drink, "but also apples 
and peaches, as many as we could take back to the ship." Dur- 
ing the following winter Guldin lived with his family in the 
house of a friend, Conrad Matthaei, the well known hermit of 
the "Ridge," but on January i6th, 171 1, he bought 275 acres 
along the Wissahickon Creek. Being settled so close to Ger- 
mantown, it is but natural to suppose that he preached occa- 
sionally for the Reformed people, as we know he did at a later 
period of his life. In 1718 he wrote two books, which he pub- 
lished perhaps in Germany, in which he defended his life and 
doctrines in Switzerland. From them we learn the story of his 
early life. In 1743 he published a third book, against a union 
movement of all denominations in Pennsylvania, inaugurated by 
Count Zinzendorf. But as Guldin lived at Rocksbury rather the 
secluded and contemplative life of a Mystic, it was left to other 
more active men to bring about the actual organization of a 
Reformed congregation. 

I. — The Ministry of Paulus Van Vlecq 

There is an old, almost illegible record in the Dutch archives 
at New Brunswick, N. J., which gives us the desired information. 
(Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Soeicty, Vol. i, pp. iii-ijp.) 
On page 13 of this record we read: 

"In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1710, Mr. Paulus Van Vlecq 
was elected pastor, or shepherd, and teacher in the Church of Jesus 
Christ at Shacuminie, Bensalem, Germantown and surrounding villages." 

The consistory at Shameny and Bensalem was installed by 
Dr. Van Vlecq on May 21, 1710. The church at Whitemarsh 
was established on June 4th, 1710 with Hans Hendrick ]\Ieels, 
Senior Elder; Evert Ter Heuven, Junior Elder; Isaac Dilbeck. 
Senior Deacon, and William DeWees, Junior Deacon. In the 
following year the congregation had 21 members, whose names 
are given in the record. 

Here then we notice the first evidence of an organization. 
Ven Vlecq organized two congregations, one at Neshaminy, 
which is to-day the Dutch Reformed congregation at Church- 
ville, Bucks County, and the other at Whitemarsh. This latter 
congregation evidently included "Germantown and the surround- 



386 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

ing villages." There was, therefore, no separate organization 
at Germantown, but the Reformed people there attended church 
at Whitemarsh. 

But let us look for a moment at the pastor of this congre- 
gation, the Rev. Paulus Van Vlecq. He appears first in the 
State of New York in 1702. The Lieutenant-Governor was in- 
formed "that one Paulus Van Vlecq hath lately wandered about 
the country, preaching, notwithstanding he has been formally 
forbid by his Excellency to do the same, and is lately called by 
some of the inhabitants of Kinderhook to be their clerk (min- 
ister), without license." In his defence Van Vlecq produced a 
testimonial of the people at Kinderhook, which stated that he 
had satisfactorily performed among them the duties of precentor 
and schoolmaster. (Documentary History of Nezv York, Vol. j, 
/•. 8()4.) In 1709 Van Vlecq appears again in the Journal of 
the New York Legislature. His name was at that time offered 
as a person willing to accompany the expedition to Canada in 
the capacity of chaplain or reader to the Dutch troops. The 
Dutch Reformed ministers of New York were accordingly 
ordered by the Assembly to examine him, and if found orthodox, 
to ordain him. They refused most positively to do this, as they 
had no orders from the church in Holland. However, it seems 
that Van Vlecq was ordained privately by Dr. Freeman, although 
the latter, in his letter to Holland, denied it. It is true, hoAvever, 
that when Van Vlecq appeared in Pennsylvania in 1710, he cair.e 
as a fully fledged minister. It is therefore probable that Dr. 
Freeman, who was his close friend, and suspected of ordaining 
him, really performed this rite, in spite of his public denial. On 
September 21, 1710, Van Vlecq asked the Presbytery of Phila- 
delphia to admit him and his congregation to the Presbytery. 
The minutes of that meeting state : "After serious debating 
thereon, it was put to the vote to admit him as a meml^er of 
the Presbytery or not, and it was carried in the affirmative." 
The Presbytery would hardly have taken this action unless he 
had presented satisfactory evidence of his ordination. By this 
act Van Vlecq became a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
and his congregation, consisting of Dutch and German settlers, 
passed under the care of the Presbyterian Church. The min- 
istry of Van Vlecq was neither long nor successful. On Sep- 
tember nth, 171 T, he was married to Jannetye Van Dyck by 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 387 

Rev. Mr. Andrews, the Presbyterian minister at Philadelphia. 
Shortly after his marriage, rumors began to circulate in his 
congregation that he had left a wife in Holland, from whom 
he was not divorced, and although the charge was never defi- 
nitely proved against him, yet he preferred to leave the congre- 
gation in 1712. What became of him afterward is not known. 
After the removal of Van Vlecq the congregation at White- 
marsh seems to have disbanded. 

II. — The Activity of John Philip Boehm. 1725-7 

A new period of activity for the Reformed people of Penn- 
sylvania began in 1725, when John Philip Boehm, a former 
school teacher in the Palatinate was persuaded by the people 
to assume the ministerial office among them. Bachen himself 
has left us the record of these important events in a report which 
he sent to Holland on July 8th, 1744, which was brought to light 
from the Dutch archives at the Hague a few years ago. The 
story of Boehm is as follows : 

Formerly, when there were no Reformed services in this country, 
the Reformed people at Falkner Swamp, Skippack and Whitemarsh came 
together and when they took communion it was with the Presbyterians 
in Philadelphia in the year 1725. But because this appeared to some 
as not in accord with our Reformed Church, they stayed away and 
became much scattered, as wandering sheep having no shepherd, which 
was very distressing to observe. 

Accordingly they resolved once more urgently to request me (J. Ph. 
Boehm), although for full five years I had declined to do so, that I would 
become their pastor. This was so touchingly represented to me by two 
of their number thereunto commissioned, that our hearts melted together 
in tears, and in the name of all the people it was pressed upon my con- 
science whether I had the courage to answer for it at the last judgment 
if I should leave them thus without help and allow so many souls to 
remain scattered among all kinds of sects. I thought indeed that it 
would be better for me if I could escape this yoke and support my fam- 
ily with my work, but I was convinced by my conscience that I could 
not refuse. I allowed myself, therefore, to be persuaded to this work. 
With humbleness of heart I addressed myself to the Lord's work and 
drew up with my brethren, as well as we could, a Constitution of the 
church, so that all things might be done in good order. We divided 
the charge into three congregations, and when the Constitution had been 
presented to and accepted by the whole people, I was regularly elected 
by each one of the congregations and a formal call was extended to me 
by the elders. Whereupon I begun the ministry of the Lord among 
them. After I had preached a few times to my dear congregations, 
namely, Falkner Swamp, Skippack and Whitemarsh, we celebrated the 
Lord's Supper, and then commenced for the first time, on October 1.5, 
1725, at Falkner Swamp, with 40 members; in November at Skippack, 



388 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

with 37 members; on December 23, at Whitemarsh, with. 24 members. 
That was the beginning of our worship." ("Minutes and Letters of the 
Caetus of Pennsylvania," Pliiladelphia, 1903, p. 17.) 

That these congregations of Boehm's were a continuation 
of the work of Van Vlecq is shown by the fact that the elders 
of Boehm had been elders in the congregation of Van Vlecq. 
In 1728 we find as elders of Whitemarsh Isaac Dilbeck, William 
De Wees and John Rebenstock, while Gabriel Schuler and Ger- 
ret Ter Heuven were elders at Skippack. The names of all 
these men are found in the church record of Van Vlecq. These 
five men are therefore the link which joins the congregation of 
1725 to that of 1710. 

III. — The Ministry of George Michael Weiss. 1 727-1730 

The work of Boehm continued uninterruptedly and pros- 
perously for two years, when the arrival of an ordained minister 
threw his congregation into great confusion. 

On September 21st, 1727, there appeared at the court house 
of Philadelphia a motley crowd of 109 Palatine immigrants, who, 
according to Act of Legislature, passed shortly before their 
arrival, were required to render the oath of allegiance to George 
II, King of England. They, together with their wives and 
children, had been imported in the ship William and Sarah; 
having last sailed from Rotterdam. The leader of the colonists 
and the first to sign the Declaration was the Rev. George 
Michael Weiss, who had accompanied them from the Palatinate 
to the New World. A contemporaneous report in the Minutes 
of the Deputies of the Synods of North and South Holland, 
dated October 31, 1735, states definitely: "The ministry of the 
churches (in Pennsylvania) has been in charge of the Rev. Mr. 
Weiss, who came over with a colony of these Palatines." 

As soon as Weiss heard that an unordained layman was 
ministering to the Reformed congregations of the province, he 
became very violent. With letters and public denunciations he 
tried to stop his preaching. He declared that Boehm had no 
right to persist in his unlawful ministry. For these reasons 
he denounced him as "a man unfit for the ministry whom I do 
not consider worthy to administer the sacraments." This un- 
fortunate controversy caused great commotion in the churches, 
but in the end it served a very useful purpose. The members 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOJJ'N 389 

of Boehm's congregations, who were much attached to their 
faithful leader, appealed, through the Dutch minister of New 
York, to the Classis of Amsterdam for permission to have him 
ordained. The request was granted and Boehm was ordained 
at New York on November 23d, 1729. On the following day a 
reconciliation between Boehm and Weiss w^as effected, in which 
the latter promised to interfere no more with the work of Boehm, 
but to confine himself to Philadelphia and Germantown. A 
record of this event is preserved in a minute book of the Con- 
sistory of the Collegiate Dutch Reformed Church of New York, 
from which I may be allowed to quote a few sentences : "That 
henceforth there shall be a brotherly friendship between Dr. 
Boehm and his congregations with Dr. Weiss. That they will 
both act as servants of the Lord towards each other — Dr. Weiss 
for the honor of Dr. Boehm's ministry, and Dr. Boehm for the 
honor of Dr. Weiss's ministry at Philadelphia and Germantown. 
Dr. Weiss also binds himself to endeavor to bring his congrega- 
tion in Philadelphia and Germantown into subordination to the 
Reverend Classis of Amsterdam." This statement proves con- 
clusively that during the ministry of Rev. ]\Ir. Weiss a separate 
German Reformed congregation was organized at Germantown, 
either in 1727 or 1728. Since that year the existence of the con- 
gregation has been continuous. 

In spite of the more peaceful relations between himself and 
Boehm, Weiss found it difficult to maintain himself. His con- 
gregations were so poor that they could neither pay him a suffic- 
ient salary nor erect a house of worship, but he was compelled 
to preach as Boehm, in barns and private houses. In order to 
increase his income he advertised in eight successive issues of 
the Philadelphia Mercury, beginning with February 10, 1730, for 
students to teach them Logic, Natural Philosophy and ]vleta- 
physics. The instruction to be given in the house of the widow 
Sprogel, where he may have boarded. But it is doubtful whether 
the young men of Philadelphia cared for such a splendid oppor- 
tunity to be introduced into the mysteries of philosophy. Like 
himself, they had probably all they could do to make a living. 
Consequently we find him a few months later casting about for 
other means to improve his condition and incidentally that of 
his congregations. In answ'er to a report and appeal w^hich he 
had sent to Holland, he learned that some monev had been col- 



390 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

lected by the Dutch Synods. He at once resolved to secure this 
money. Without delay he started on his journey to Holland in 
May, 1730. Boehm did not look very kindly upon this newr move 
of his fellov^ laborer, for he wrote to the minister of New York 
on May 17, 1730: "He (Weiss) is now bent upon new trouble, 
for he has resolved to cross the ocean stating that he wants to 
go to Holland to secure the money which is said to have been 
collected there in answer to his letter. He wants to put this 
money on interest, so that he can live on it. * * * Now we 
believe nothing to be more certain than that, together with 
Jacob Reiff, who accompanies him, and who was the first to in- 
troduce him into our congregations and helped him to create 
the harmful division, he will do all in their power to oppose our 
work." The prediction of Boehm was fully borne out by later 
developments. Not only did Weiss take along with him several 
letters of complaint against Boehm from the discontented people 
at Skippack, which he laid before the authorities in Holland, but 
also while in Holland used every opportunity to slander a man 
who was every inch as good as he. Space does not permit us 
to enter into the details of the collecting tour of Weiss and 
Reifif. We can only say that as the result of their mission about 
2200 Dutch Guilders, or 880 dollars, were collected, which Weiss 
on his return to America in the spring of 1731, entrusted to his 
companion, Jacob Reifif. 

(For details see History of the Rciff Case, in Historical Notes, 
edited by Mr. Dotterer. Vol. i, p. 133 fif.) 

IV. — The Ministry of John Peter Miller 

September, 1730 — Summer, 1731 

After the departure of Weiss, the congregation remained 
without a pastor for several months. But on August 29, 1730, 
a new candidate of theology arrived in Philadelphia — John Peter 
Miller. Thus far it was not possible to prove that Miller was 
ever pastor at Germantown, but from a letter of Boehm's dated 
November 12, 1730, discovered at Amsterdam, we learn this in- 
teresting fact. 

As Boehm reprodvtces in this letter an interesting conver- 
sation which he had with Miller, and as these are the only state- 
ments of Miller while pastor at Germantown, I may be par- 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 391 

doned for quoting them entire. They certainly throw a flood of 
Hght upon the character of Miller. Boehm writes as follows : 

"No person can be expected for the congregations, because this fall 
another man has arrived, named Miller, whose father is minister in the 
Palatinate and belongs to the inspectorate of Kaiserslauten. He avails 
himself, like Weiss, of the liberty of this country, for he has preached 
hitherto to the seceders at Skippack and promised them as well as 
*he people in Philadelphia and Germantown to take the place of Weiss 
till his return. In order to do this the more successfully, as he is not 
yet ordained, he appealed to the Presbyterians in Philadelphia to be 
ordained by them, as he told me himself at my house on the 19th of 
October, and that in the week before he had handed in his confession 
of faith, hoping to have his desire granted in the following week, which, 
however, as far as I know, has not yet been done. 

"I gave Miller the friendly advice to apply to the ministers of New 
York and endeavor to be ordained according to the order of our Re- 
formed Church, so that the affair might stand a better test before the 
world. Whereupon he answered me: 

"That way were far too round about for him, if he could have a 
nearer way he would certainly take it, besides, there would be no real 
difference at any rate. Moreover, he liked to know who had given 
authority to the Classis of Amsterdam to rule over the church in this 
country, he thought the King of England were more important than the 
Classis of Holland. Then I told him that he was asking too much, who 
had given the Classis the authority, and it did not concern me at all, btit 
I thought that if the Classis had no right in this matter, they would 
never have received us and given us instructions. I had submitted my- 
self to them and would always and gladly live according to their eccles- 
siastical direction. He then gave me a fine bit of sarcasm. That were 
indeed a glorious liberty in this country where the people themselves 
could appoint a minister, elect him and depose him again according to 
their pleasure. It would not be right to deprive them of such liberty 
by placing them under a Classis which would afterward send these 
ministers as she saw fit. The Christians in this country were under no 
head, — Christ alone was their head in heaven. Then, he declared, the 
people had only called me provisionally, tmtil they could get another 
minister. I showed him my call. He said the call did not state that 
they had called me for life, whereupon I answered, the Reverend Classis 
had recognized the call as valid, if he were wiser than the Classis he 
would have to take it up with her. Besides, I represented to him, that 
I also recognized Christ as the only head of his Church on earth through 
means, for which reason I would rather, for the sake of good order in 
the Church, submit to divinely instituted authority than stand on my 
own freedom. On this question he did not agree with me." 

Shortly afterwards ]\Iiller was ordained by the Presbyteri- 
ans. Rev. Mr. Andrews paid him the following compliment: 
"He (Aliller) is an extraordinary person for sense and learning. 
We gave him a question to discuss about justification, and he 
answered it on a whole sheet of paper in a very notable manner. 
He speaks Latin as readily as we do our vernacular tongue." 



392 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

Miller himself has left us a record of his ordination in a letter 
written late in his life. He informs us: "In August, 1730, I 
arrived in Philadelphia, and was there at the end of the said 
year upon the order of the Scotch Synod, ordained in the old 
Presbyterian Meeting House by three ministers — Rennent, An- 
drews and Boyd." 

Nothing else is known about the ministry of Miller at Ger- 
mantown. Only at Goshenhoppen he has left a record of his 
work, consisting of 69 baptisms which he entered into the 
church record from June, 1731, to July, 1734. {Pcrkiomcn Regions, 
Vol. Ill, p. Q4.) During the same time he also supplied Tulpe- 
hocken. In May, 1735, he left the Reformed Church and by 
public baptism entered the sect of the Dunkers. The rest of 
his life was spent behind the cloister walls at Ephrata, in Lan- 
caster County. His ministry at Philadelphia and Germantown 
seems to have come to an end in the summer of 1731, perhaps 
at the return of Weiss from Europe. But as Weiss soon after 
his return accepted a call to Schoharie County, in the State of 
New York, the congregation was again without a minister. 

V. — The Ministry of John Bartholomew Rieger 

September, 173 1 — April, 1734 

Exactly four years after Rev. Mr. Weiss had presented 
himself at the court house in Philadelphia, to sign the oath of 
allegiance, on September 21, 1731, another Reformed minister 
stood at the same time to go through the same formality. It was 
John Bartholomew Rieger. Like Weiss he was the leader of a 
colony of Palatines. This is distinctly asserted in a report of 
Rev. Mr. Wilhelmius, the friend of the Palatines, at Rotterdam, 
which he laid before the Deputies on October 31st, 1735. In it 
he states that the third minister serving the Reformed people 
"is Candidate Rieger, who went over with another colony and 
became minister there." 

Shortly after his arrival Rieger was elected pastor at Phila- 
delphia and Germantown. On November 22, 173 1, Dr. Jacob 
Diemer, a prominent member of the congregation at Philadel- 
phia, wrote to the Synod : "In trying to raise the salary of our 
pastor, we found in three congregations — Philadelphia, German- 
town and Skippack — not quite 200 families. These have not 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 393 

been able to pay more than thirty-eight pounds towards the 
minister's salary." In a later letter of Rieger himself, dated 
March 4, 1733, we find the following statement: "The congrega- 
tion at Skippack, Germantown and Philadelphia, has accepted 
as its minister, Barth. Rieger, who arrived here a year and a 
half ago. He preaches on one Sunday at Skippack, the second 
at Germantown and the third at Philadelphia." 

In September, 1734. the congregation numbered, according 
to the statement of two elders, Minck and Bentzel, thirty mem- 
bers. (See "Minutes and Letters of the Coetus of Pennsylva- 
nia," p. I.) 

The ministry of Rieger at Philadelphia and Germantown 
became eventful through the remarkable occurrences of the now 
famous Reifi' case Let me give you the story in brief in the 
words of the pastor and elders as submitted to the Synod of 
Holland on February 23, 1734. They wrote as follows: 

"We are at present in a lamentable condition because of the collected 
money sent over to us, which had been given for the upbuilding of the 
Reformed Church, and is still in the hands of the dishonest Jacob Rieff, 
who with Dr. Weiss was in Holland in 1730 and 1731. We thought we 
could compel him to render an account and learn whether the collection 
book agreed with his statements, but it was all in vain. He insists 
that he received no more than 750 Dutch Guilders from Dr. Van Asten, 
whereas, according to the statement of Dr. Weiss, the collection book 
shows more than 2000." 

In order to compel Reiff to render an account, the 
case had been taken into the Court of Chancery, but as 
the prosecuting members did not have sufficient evidence 
to prove their contention, nothing was gained by the move. 
Finally a climax was reached in April, 1734. A congregational 
meeting was held at which ReiiT was present. Then the con- 
gregation learned that the members who had prosecuted Reiff 
before the cotirt had done so at their own initiative without 
any authority from the congregation, that they were really the 
cause of the whole trouble, having advised Reiff by letter to 
invest the collected money in merchandise. When the congre- 
gation learned these astonishing facts, they resolved at once to 
depose the whole consistory and elect new men who would 
serve the congregation more faithfully. This resolution was 
carried out and a new consistory was elected. This action of 
the congregation displeased the pastor. Rev. Mr. Rieger, very 



394 HISTORY Of OLD GBRMANTOWN 

much, because he sympathized with the deposed members, and 
as a result he left the congreg-ation and went to Aimwell, N. J. 

VI.— The Ministry of John Bechtel 

1734— 1744 

While all these events had been going on in the two congre- 
gations, another man had been quietly working at Germantown, 
who, after the departure of Rieger, took full charge of the con- 
gregation. It was John Bechtel. Like Boehm himself, he was 
a layman, a turner by trade. According to his autobiography, 
preserved in the archives of the Moravian Church, at Bethlehem, 
he emigrated with his wife and three children to Pennsylvania 
in 1726. He settled in Germantown. In referring to his min- 
istry among the Reformed, he states in his autobiography : "I 
served my Reformed brethren in Germantown and neighbor- 
hood for more than sixteen years. In answer to their call and 
its written confirmation from Heidelberg, I conducted their 
religious services and acted as their pastor. Finally they began 
to persecute me and at last dismissed me on Sunday, February 
9, 1744." Counting back sixteen years from 1744, we are 
brought to 1728, and as he says that he served them somewhat 
longer than sixteen years, his ministry must have begun in 
1727. At first he acted only as a lay reader, while Weiss, Mil- 
ler and Rieger were the regular pastors. As they preached at 
most once every three weeks, there was enough opportunity 
for a lay reader to make himself useful in the intervening Sun- 
days. But he did not only lead the congregation in spiritual 
things, he also endeavored to advance the material interests 
of the congregation. Under his leadership the congregation 
purchased a lot on Market Square for a church. It was a lot 
containing one eighth of an acre. It was conveyed on Novem- 
ber 8, 1732, by Henry Frederick, of Germantown, carpenter, and 
Anna Barbara, his wife, to John Bechtel, turner ; Christopher 
Meng, mason ; Jacob Bauman, carpenter, and George Bensel, 
yeoman, in trust for the Reformed congregation. In the decla- 
ration of trust made by these persons on the following day, 
November 9, 1732, it is stated that "said land and premises were 
so as aforesaid conveyed unto us by the direction and appoint- 
ment of the inhabitants of Germantown aforesaid, belonging to 
the High Dutch Reformed Congregation in trust, to the 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 395 

intent only that we, or such or so many of us as shall be and 
continue in unity and religious fellowshinp with the said High 
Dutch Reformed Congregation, and remain members of the 

same shall hold it for the benefit, use and behoof of the 

said congregation forever, and for a place to erect a meeting 
house for the use and service of the said congregation." 

In the following year, 1733, a church was built on the 
ground, which Boehm describes as "a well built, large stone 
church." In a report to Holland dated October 28, 1734, Boehm 
refers to the church as follows : "The congregation at German- 
town has undertaken to build a church. They have made con- 
siderable progress with it, l)ut they have contracted a debt on 
account of it, so that they are not much farther advanced than if 
they had to begin anew, because the collections in this country 
bring, according to our opinion, not much result. However, 
the church stands upon a piece of land definitely bought by 
them. It is also well situated, almost in the centre of that 
place." 

Here I have to stop a moment in the history to correct two 
misconceptions into which nearly all of our historians have 
fallen. In the first place it is usually thought that when the 
church was built, John Bechtel was really the pastor of the 
congregation. This I consider as not only as improbable, but 
also opposed to all the evidence we have. In the first place Ave 
have seen that Bechtel is not called the pastor in the deed, but 
only "John Bechtel, turner." Moreover, there are two letters 
of Rev. Mr. Rieger in existence, one dated March 4, 1733. and 
the second February zt^, i734, in both of which he signs himself 
as pastor at Philadelphia and Germantown, and finally we have 
the definite testimony of Boehm that Bechtel assumed the pas- 
torate after the departure of Rieger. Thus he writes on July 8. 
1744: "When Bartholomew Rieger, who also preached for them 
occasionally, had left them, they allowed John Bechtel to preach 
constantly to them." (See "jMinutes and Letters of the Coetus 
of Pennsylvania," p. 21). We are therefore forced to the con- 
clusion that in 1732 and 1733 Bechtel was still lay reader. 

Again it is stated by many historians that Germantown 
had a Reformed Church as early as 1719, and that the Swedish 
minister, Dylander, laid the corner stone. (Hallesche Nach- 
richten. New edition. Vol. I, p. 41). 



396 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

This statement is certainly incorrect, for Dylander did not 
come to this country till 1737, eighteen years after the supposed 
corner stone laying. Again, in a letter which Arent Hassert, 
Jr., long a resident of Philadelphia, wrote on January 9, 1733, 
to the Synod of Holland in answer to a request for information, 
he enumerates all the churches then built in Germantown, but 
makes no mention of a Reformed Church. He states: "German- 
town is six English miles from Philadelphia. It has a large 
Quaker meeting house, a High German Alennonite Church and 
a similar one in which the Crefeld dialect or a broken Holland- 
ish is used." Finally on July 14, 1744, the members of the 
congregation at Germantown sent a letter to Holland in which 
they wrote : "About ten years ago four members of the con- 
gregation used their best efforts to build a church for the 
same, hoping that the congregation might there conduct its 
services. Whatever these members contributed for its erection 
from their own means, they hoped the congregation would in 
course of time refund to them, but thus far their hopes have 
not been realized." It is noteworthy that in this letter there is 
only a reference to the church of 1733. Why this total silence 
in these letters as well as in the long reports of Boehm? Evi- 
dently because no earlier church existed. How the story origi- 
nated is not known, but there is no uestion but that we can 
dismiss it as unhistorical. 

From 1733 to 1740 the congregation has left but few traces 
in history. A statement of Boehm is our main source of infor- 
mation for this period. On January 14, 1739, he wrote to the 
Classis as follows : "With Germantown I have had no personal 
relation, nor have I any exact knowledge about its condition, 
because, although it was often proposed to them, they would 
never submit to any church order. Yet this much is known 
to me (because I asked two of the elders, Clinch and Benzel), 
that in the month of September, 1734, there had been about 
thirty communicants. Since then John Bechtel has preached 
for them and has undertaken to administer the Sacraments. 
Then they also allowed the old Guldin to preach in their church 
and now the Lutherans also make use of it, and thus the Re- 
formed people there are at present in a rather poor condition." 

The years 1741-1742 became memorable in the history of 
the congregation through the visit of Count Zinzendorf. He 
arrived in Philadelphia on December 10, 1741. He had learned 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 397 

from frequent reports the deplorable condition in Pennsylvania, 
and that there was practically no ecclessiastical organization 
among the various sects. Hence he determined to bring, if 
possible, order out of this chaos by uniting all Protestants into 
one body, irrespective of their denominational affiliations. 
When he arrived in Pennsylvania he found that the same long- 
ing for union had there been entertained by a body of men 
called "The Associated Brethren of Skippack." When one of 
their leaders, Henry Antes, "the pious man of Frederick town- 
ship," explained to him his plans for a union conference of all 
the churches, Zinzendorf readily assented, because he saw in 
it a means to carry out his own ideas. As a result, Antes issued 
a circular, on December 15, 1741 (old style), calling a general 
conference to meet in Germantown on January i, 1742 (old 
style), in order to treat peaceably concerning the most import- 
ant articles of faith, and to ascertain how far they might all 
agree in the most essential points, for the purpose of promoting 
mutual love and forbearance." On December 20, 1741 (Decem- 
ber 31, 1741, new style), Zinzendorf preached for the first time 
in the Reformed Church at Germantown. When he met Bechtel 
for the first time, shortly after his arrival, he asked to see his 
workshop. Bechtel, not accvistomed to figurative language, 
thought at first he meant his turner shop. But when he found 
out that the Count meant his church, he showed it to him wil- 
lingly. The Count asked "how many persons does it hold?" 
Bechtel replied. " about a thousand." 'T see," said the Count, 
'T shall have a great deal of work when I return." The work 
proved indeed larger and harder than he anticipated. Although 
the first union meeting, which was held in the house of Theobold 
Endt, was largely attended, soon dififerences of opinion appeared, 
which led to heated discussions. They were repeated at later 
meetings, till gradually all but the Moravians, Lutherans and 
Reformed withdrew. At the third union meeting, at Oley, the 
actual organization of the movement took place, and it was 
called "The Congregation of God in the Spirit." This organiza- 
tion was still further completed at the fifth Synod, held in Ger- 
mantown, April 6-9 (old style). At this time a catechism was 
published for the Reformed Church under the editorship of 
John Bechtel. That this catechism was not written by Bechtel 
himself as all the Reformed historians state, is evident from the 
following entry in the Bethlehem diary, under date of July 11-22, 



398 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

1/42. "Afterwards Bro. Andrew Eschenbach and Gottlob Butt- 
ner read from the catechism for the Reformed congregations in 
Pennsylvania, which Bro. Ludwig (Zinzendorf) wrote and Bro. 
John Bechtel edited." Shortly after the Synod, on Palm Sun- 
day, 1742, John Bechtel was ordained by Bishop David Nitzsch- 
mann and appointed overseer of the Reformed congregations 
in the province. This ordination of Bechtel was in course of 
time followed by ordinations of other men from the Reform 
contingent until there were in all five Reformed missionaries 
laboring in the various German settlements — Bechtel, Ranch, 
Brandmuller and Antes. At first these missionaries were gladl}' 
welcomed, but when the Reformed people began to realize that 
in accepting the ministrations of these men they would grad- 
ually drift into the ^Moravian Church, most of them refused to 
listen any longer to their preaching. Such was also the experi- 
ence of the Reformed people at Germantown. 

Shortly after his ordination, Bechtel announced that all the 
Reformed people of Germantown and its neighborhood should 
assemble in the Reformed Church on Monday after Pentecost. 
At this meeting he informed them that he was willing to organ- 
ize a Reformed congregation, and that all who wished to be 
members of the congregation and adhere to the decrees of the 
Synod of Berne, should sign their names. He also promised 
to administer the sacraments after the Reformed custom and 
instruct the children in a Reformed catechism, either the Heidel- 
berg, Basle, or Berne catechism, whichever they desired. As a 
result, seventeen or eighteen signed their names. (See "Boehm's 
Getreuer Warnungsbrief, Philadelphia, 1742, p. 86.) 

A regular election for a pastor took place on January 27, 

1743, when Bechtel was elected for one year, with the under- 
standing "that he would henceforth adhere to the Reformed 
doctrine and always teach the Heidelberg catechism in its purity 
in all its points." But hardly a week afterwards he objected 
publicly to the eightieth and one hundred and fourteenth ques- 
tions, saying the first (on the Catholic Mass) was not necessary 
in this country, and the latter was not true because those whO' 
were converted no longer committed sin. By such and similar 
statements he ofl:ended many of his people, and when the year 
agreed upon was up, he was dismissed on Sunday, February 9, 

1744. Two years afterward he removed to Bethlehem, where 
he spent the rest of his life in retirement. Although a pious 



HISTORY OP OLD GERMANTOWN 399 

man, he was not born to be a leader, but rather preferred a hfe 
of contemplative seclusion. 

After the retirement of Bechtel, the people held another con- 
gregational meeting to consult what should be done next. They 
concluded unanimously to call Rev. John Philip Boehm, pastor 
of the Reformed congregation at Philadelphia, Falkner Swamp, 
Skippack and Whitemarsh, who had been the most violent oppo- 
nent of the union movement of Zinzendorf, and through whose 
instrumentality most of the Reformed congregations had been 
kept within the Reformed Church. But when Boehm demanded 
that they should draw up a regular contract, accepting as their 
constitution one prepared by him and in force in his other con- 
gregations, they objected. They had enjoyed their freedom too 
long, and were not willing to submit to strict rules and regu- 
lations. 

The congregation was then without a regular pastor, and 
was only occasionally supplied by visiting ministers. Rev. 
Peter Henry Dorsius, of Neshaminy, Bucks County, visited 
them, for instance, on Easter Sunday, 1744. Shortly before, an 
unordained preacher from Raritan. N. J., had been with them. 
(See the extended account by Rev. Mr. Boehm in "]\Iinutes and 
Letters of the Coetus of Pennsylvania." Philadelphia, 1903, 
pp. 27-30.) 

On July 14, 1744, the members of the congregation sent the 
following letter to the Synod of Holland: 

"Very Reverend, Very Learned and Most Honored Deputies of the 
Reverend Synods of North and South Holland: 
"Whereas, The Rev. Mr. Dorsius, after receiving the letter of the 
Reverend Deputies of the two Synods mentioned above, which was 
addressed to all the Reformed congregations of Pennsylvania, very 
kindly made the same known to our Reformed congregation here in 
Germantown, we could but acknowledge, with most humble respect and 
gratitude, your kindness in offering to establish and care for our Re- 
formed congregations in the country. We also feel encouraged to report 
briefly to the Reverend Deputies of the two Synods, the distracted and 
ruined condition of our congregation. About ten years ago, four men 
and members of the congregation did their best, according to their 
ability, to build a church for the congregation, hoping that thus it would 
be in a position to conduct its regular worship, and that if it secured a 
regular pastor, it would be able gradually to refund to them whatever 
they had spent of their small means in the building of a church. But 
since, after the erection of the church, the congregation remained too 
weak, owing to the lack of a pastor (although several years ago the 
Rev. Mr. Rieger preached here for a short time, as also several others 
occasionally), it was not able to pay off the costs of the newly built 
church, much less to pay a regular salary to a minister. This was 



400 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

especially the case because one of the men mentioned above (John 
Bechtel) who, during almost the entire period had read (sermons) to 
the congregation, about a year ago went over to the party of Zinzendorf, 
or the Moravian Brethren, and endeavored most persistently to draw our 
church and congregation secretly to the same party. But several of 
our members, without expecting any temporal reward, did their utmost 
to prevent this and to maintain our poor and needy congregation. 

"We, therefore, address our most humble request and petition to 
your Reverences to take the condition of our congregation into your 
kind consideration, and we take the liberty to humbly assure your 
Reverences that your accustomed kindness and fatherly care for these 
very distant Evangelical Reformed congregations of Jesus Christ (who 
has appointed you as our fathers and guardians), causes us to entertain 
the glad hope that the Reverend Deputies will effectually make known 
our circumstances to the Honorable Synods, and will assist us through 
deeds and with counsels, and thus graciously support our poor congre- 
gation, which we recommend to your favor and benevolence. The Rev. 
Mr. Dorsius has indeed preached for us lately several times in High 
German, but this is rather difficult for him (he was a Dutch Reformed 
minister), although he did it out of love to help our congregation, which 
kindness we gratefully recognize. At other times a working man, a 
member of our congregation, reads to us a chapter from the Bible, or a 
sermon, in order not to discontinue our services altogether. 

"Finally, we all wish most heartily that Jesus Christ, the Chief 
Shepherd of all his congregations, may abundantly fill your Reverences 
with His spirit and power, in order that each congregation may share, 
according to its circumstances, the blessing with you. Thus we remain 
most humbly, your Reverences' most submissive elders, officers and 
members of the Reformed congregation at Germantown, whose names 
are hereunto subscribed. 
Germantown, July 14, 1744. 

Nicholas Ochs, elder, Adam Muller, 

Frederick Gartner, elder, Frederick Lorentz, 

Jacob Bauman, Conrad Weidner, 

George Bensel, Hans Kuber, 

Christopher Meng, Henry Bard, 

Daniel Kroninger, John Von Sanden. 

Jacob Knecht, Jacob Madori, 

Jacob Weidman, John George Reiss. 

Sebastian Muller, Jacob Maag." 

This petition did not have an immediate effect, but two 
years later Rev. Michael Schlatter arrived in Pennsylvania,- sent 
over by the Holland Church to organize the Reformed Church 
in this countrv. This organization was effected on September 
29, 1747. at Philadelphia. 

Michael Schlatter also organized the Reformed congrega- 
tions of Philadelphia and Germantown into one charge, on 
September 18, 1746. when sixty men at Germantown promised 
twenty-four pounds for a pastor's salary. A few months later, 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



401 



on December 21, 1746, Schlatter was installed by Rev. Mr. 
Boehm as the regular pastor of this charge. 

AVith the arrival of Schlatter the congregation passed into 
a new stage of existence. The period of irregular ministers 
came to an end and the period of a regular ministry began 




REV. MICHAEL SCHLATTER 



henceforth. The congregation remained an integral part of the 
Coetus of Pennsylvania, and enjo3^ed for more than a century 
the ministry of regular Reformed pastors. 

Finally we may be permJtted to append the first complete 
list of the Reformed ministers, who served the Germantown 
cono-resration : 



102 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 




REV. ALBERT HELFFENSTEIN, JR. 



REV. JACOB HELFFENSTEIN 



PASTORS OF THE GERMAN REFORMED CONGREGATION 
AT GERMANTOWN 

1. — 1727-1730, George Michael Weiss. 

2. — 1730-September-1731, summer, John Peter Miller. 

3. — 1731, September-1734, April, John Bartholomew Rieger. 

4.— 1734-1744, John Bechtel. 

1744-1745, Supplied by Peter Henry Dorsius and others. 

5.— 1746-1749, Michael Schlatter. 

6.— 1749-1756, John Conrad Steiner. 

7.— 1756-1757, Henry William Stoy. 

8. — 1758-1767, John George Alsentz. 

9. — 1767, October-1768, September, John Christopher Faber. 
10. — 1769, Spring-1772, Christian Frederick Faehring. 
11.— 1772-1776, John Conrad Albert Helffenstein. 
12.— 1777-1779, Samuel Dubbendorf. 
13.— 1779-1790, John Conrad Albert Helffenstein. 
14.-1790-1800, Frederick Lebrecht Herman. 
15.— 1802-1805, John William Runkel. 
16.-1807-1809, Charles Helffenstein. 
17.-1811-1813, Frederick William Van der Sloot. 
18.-1813-1824, Caspar Wack. 
19.-1825-1829, John H. Schwaltz. 
20.— 1830-1836, Albert Helffenstein, Jr. 
21.-1838-1842, Truman Osborn. 
22.-1842-1856, Jacob Helffenstein. 

In 1856 it passed over into the Presbyterian Church. 



THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF GENERAL AGNEW AND 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BIRD 

In the history of the Lower Burying Ground, mention was 
made of the burial of General Agnew and Lieutenant-Colonel 
Bird, and of the fact that Watson, the historian, erected a stone 
over their graves. There has long been considerable doubt in 
the minds of many as to the real place of sepulture of these two 
unfortunate British officers, although a few people have always 
known the true facts. In 1902, in opening the continuation of 
Broad Street, it became necessary to cut off a portion of the 
eastern end of the de Benneville graveyard, at Green Lane and 
Old York Road. This necessitated the removal of a few bodies 
in that part of the yard, and among them were those of the two 
ofificers mentioned As this removal was under the supervision 
of the British Consul, there can be little or no doubt but that 
their remains rest in the de Benneville yard. 

We are indebted to Mr. F. L. Englebert for the following 
account of the death and burial of these two officers : 

During the battle of Germantown, which occurred October 4th, 1777, 
General Agnew's brigade lay with those of Lieutenant-General Knyp- 
hausen, Major-General Stern and Major-General Gray, on the south side 
of School House Lane, and west of Germantown Avenue, extending to 
the Wissahickon Creek. Wister's house was convenient, and General 
Agnew took possession of it, but did not remain as a tenant very long. 

The British Army, under General Howe, occupied, on the evening of 
September 23d, the north side of Stony Run, between the Ridge Road 
and the Schuylkill river, and on the 25th removed in two grand divi- 
sions. The next day General Agnew became a tenant of the Wister 
house. 

On October 4th he was summoned from the house by the noise of 
the American attack, and hastily responded to the call of duty. 

Thompson Westcott, in his "Historic Mansions of Philadelphia," 
quotes the following letter from Lossing's Field-book of the Revolution, 
of Alexander Andrew, a private soldier and principal servant of General 
Agnew, written to the widow of the General, and bearing date of March 
8, 1778. 

"The army then proceeded to that important place called Germantown, 
the 4th of October being the particular and fatal day of which your 
ladyship has cause to remember, and I have much reason to regret. But 



404 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



to let you know the particulars of that day. Being between the hours 
of nine and twelve as the brigade was following the Third in an oblique 
advancing line, the General, with the piquet at their head, entered the 
town, hurried down the street to the left, but had not ridden above 
twenty or thirty yards, which was to the top of a little rising ground, 
when a party of the enemy, about one hundred, rushed out from behind 
a house about five hundred yards in front, the General being then in the 
street, and even in front of the piquet, and all alone, only me. He 
wheeled around and putting the spurs to his horse, calling to me, he 
received a whole volley from the enemy. 

"The fatal ball entered the small of his back, near the back seam of 
his coat, right side, and came out a little below his left breast. Another 




EASTERN END OP DE BENNEVILLE GRAVEYARD AS IT 
APPEARED IN 1904 



ball went through his right hand. I at the same instant received a slight 
wound in the side, but just then got off in time enough to prevent his 
falling, who, with the assistance of two men, took him down, carried him 
in a house near by and laid him on a bed, and sent for a doctor who was 
near. When he came he could only turn his eyes and look steadfastl\' 
on me with seeming affection. 

"The doctor and Major Leslie just came in time enough to see him 
depart this life, which he did without the least struggle or agony, but 
with great composure and calmness, and seeming satisfaction: which 
was about ten or fifteen minutes after he had received the ball, and, I 
believe, between ten and eleven o'clock. 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMAKTOWN 405 

"I then had his body brought to his former quarters, took his gold 
Watch, his purse in which was four guineas and half a Johannes, which 
I delivered to Major Leslie as soon as he came home. I then had him 
genteely laid out, and decently dressed with some of his best things, 
had a coffin made, the best the place could produce. His corpse was 
decently buried the next day in the churchyard, attended by a chaplain 
and the officers of the Forty-fourth Regiment." 

Next, w^e will see what Watson says: "General Agnew rode at the 
head of his men, and when he came as far as the wall of the Mennonite 
grave-yard he was shot by Hans P. Boyer, who lay in ambush and took 
deliberate aim at the star on his breast. He fell from his horse and 
was carried to Mr. Wister's house, where he died in the front parlor. 
The man who killed him was not an enlisted soldier, and died not long 
since in the poor house." 

The statements of the two historians are materially different. 
Thompson Westcott claims, by Andrew's letter, that "there were at 
least one hundred of the enemy," — meaning the American soldiers — "who 
fired at General Agnew." 

Watson's statement corresponds with that of the de Benneville 
family records, in that he was alone, and was fired upon by Boyer, who 
was not a soldier, but a native of the village. "He is the hero of his own 
story, and was evidently a miserable boasting fellow," and history credits 
him with being weak-minded or half-witted. He said "that he was con- 
cealed near an old wall of the Mennonite Church, on Main street, and 
when he saw Agnew coming, he took deliberate aim at the bright star 
on his breast and fired." Another point in favor of the first records. 

"In time he came to the almshouse, and was supported at the public 
expense for years, a privilege which he took care to insist that he was 
entitled to, as he was one who had fought for his country. 

According to tradition. General Agnew was taken to the Wister 
house, where he died, and the stains are yet shown on the floor which 
were from the blood of his wound. Andrew says "he died within fifteen 
minutes after he was shot, in a house near by." Two conflicting state- 
ments. The facts tend to show that he was instantly killed by the one 
shot, fell from his horse and was carried to Wister's on Germantown 
avenue, opposite Indian Queen lane. Andrew further states that he was 
"buried in a church-yard," which is a mistake to be attributed to the 
writer's want of knowledge of the locality. He was interred in the 
Lower Burying Ground. Lieutenant-Colonel Bird, killed at about the 
same time, was buried with him, he having "died in Bringhurst's big 
house." 

Vv"at3on again says, "General Agnew and Colonel Bird, of the British 
Army, are both buried in the Lower Burying Ground, side by side, next 
to Mrs. Lamb's gravestone, southwest side of it, about ten feet from 
Rapp's wall in a line with the southwest end of his stable." 

This is not correct. They were not buried side by side, as the 
mound lies between the single graves of "Sirem and wife Margaret," and 
that of "Charlie, infant son of G. W. and A. E. Fox." There is only 
sufficient space for one grave between those two. 



4o6 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMAKTOWN 



After long years Watson procured a plain stone, and placed it over 
the graves of these unfortunate officers, "in order to preserve a recollec- 
tion of the place of their burial." The inscription reads as follows: 




"No More at War 

Genl. Agnew 

& Col. Bird 

British Officers 

Wounded in the 

Battle of Germantown. 

J. F. W. 



NORTHEASTERN CORNER OF DE 
BENNEVILLE GRAVEYARD, AVHERE 
GENL. AGNEW AND COL. BIRD 
WERE BURIED 



The Germantovi^n Telegraph, in March, 1858, said in relation to the 
subject: "The remains of General Agnew lay in the lower cemetery. 
Some years ago a carriage drove up to the residence of one of our most 
prominent citizens, and inquiry was made as to the resting place of 
his bones — the inmates of the carriage being grandchildren of the 
General — with a view to the erection of a monument over them. They 
were shown the unmarked spot where the remains lay buried. They went 
away, but never returned, and no monument has been reared to point 
out the place, known only to a few individuals in advanced life, where 
the body of this brave and accomplished man is inhumed." 

The writer seems not to have known, or to have forgotten, that the 
place was, and yet is marked by the stone placed there by John Fanning 
Watson. 

In reference to that visit, the following is a copy of the letter kindly 
loaned to the writer by Mrs. Anna de B. Mears: 

San Francisco, July 11. 1S86. 

Mrs. Anna de B. Mears, Dear Madam: — -Your letter of the 19th ult. 
reached me just before I left Boston. I highly value your very polite 
attention in writing, and I am much oblig'ed for and interested in your 
letter. 

■ I have always supposed that the body of my great-g-reat-great-grand- 
father. General James Agnew, rested in the grave at Germantown as stated 
by you. And I have understood that when my great-great-grandaunt. the late 
Mrs. Herman Blannerhassett. came to this country long ago, she and hei 
husband visited the grave. If the body had been taken back to his native 
land, they "would hardly have taken the trouble to have visited German- 
town, having nothing else to call them there. 

I have heard that it was their intention to erect a monument to General 
Agnew in place of the stone that now marks the place (or perhaps that was 
before the scone was put there). 

But the troubles Blannerhasset got into later through Aaron Burr put 
the plan entirely out of the qviestion for them. If at any time I am in 
Germantown I will certainly avail myself of your very polite invitation 
to call. And I am extremely interested at your account of your illustrious 
great-grandfather, the late Dr. de Benneville. 

Allow me to express thanks to you as his descendant for the courtesy 
accorded to the late General Agnew's remains. Yours respectfully. 

HENRY MacLEAR MARTIN. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOJJW 407 

The removal of the remains of the two officers is without doubt, so 
that they do not now repose in the marked grave in the Main street 
ground, but are in the de Benneville plot, and only recently re-interred 
in the same place upon the appropriation of a sufficient width for Broad 
street. The two graves laid side by side in the extreme northeast cor- 
ner, by the stone wall, but they are now in the front section. 

The records of the family in possession of Mrs. Mears show that 
her great-grandfather, George de Benneville, who was born in England 
in 1703, and came to America in 1741, was present when the interments 
took place in his private plot, and he was conversant with the causa 
of the change. 

After ^he battle of Germantown had been a success to the British, it 
so incensed some of the inhabitants that violence was threatened to 
the remains of these two unfortunate officers, which caused General 
Howe to issue orders for their removal to a more secure spot. This was 
just before the British Army evacuated Philadelphia. 

The Nedrow house on the York road was occupied by the officers, 
and as the father of George de Benneville, also George, was well known 
in England, France and Germany, it did not require any great effort to 
find a safe resting place for these unfortunates. 

As a final settlement of the controversy ,the statement in the hand- 
writing of Mr. Heaton, the undertaker in charge of transferring all the 
bodies, says: "The remains of the British officers, General Agnew and 
Lieutenant-Colonel Bird, were found — there remained only the bones and 
some hand-made nails — the skull of one more intact than that of the 
other — several teeth in very good condition. The remains of one were 
about a foot or more lower than those of the other, and side by side. 
Both were carefully placed in one box, and re-interred in another part of 
the de Benneville burying ground, a mound made, and visited by the 
Philadelphia British Consul, Mr. Powell, who is going to communicate 
with his government in regard to placing a stone at the head of their 
grave. 

My friend, E. B. d"Espinville Picot, kindly saw for me that every- 
thing was done in a proper manner." 

So this decisive settlement of the matter, based upon facts of record, 
should remove all doubts from the mind as to the last resting place of 
these gallant men, and let us hope it will be their final one. 



THE "CROSS STREETS" OF GERMANTOWN 

Ancient Germantown was almost entirely built along what 
was called Main Street — now known as Germantown Avenue. 
The original plan, however, must have provided for six cross 
streets, as will be seen from the following extract from the 
'"Lazvs, Ordinances and Statutes of the Community at Germantown, 
Made and Ratified from Time to Time in the General Court at that 
Place f 

"Of the cross streets only two at first, namely the Schuylkill and 
Mill Street, shall be opened and fenced off, and both shall be cleared 
by compulsory labor, from this present date on to the end of next Octo- 
ber. The other four, any one who is willing to clear and sow them, 
may hold and use for six years after he has taken possession, provided 
he leaves ten feet for the public highway." 

This was one of the ordinances promulgated to the com- 
munity, 4 mo. 14, 1692. (Pennypacker's Settlement of German- 
tozvn, p. 271.) 

Mill Street was the present Church Lane, but the identity 
of the other street mentioned is not so clear. The oldest deeds 
and other records indicate that the "Cross Street to Schuylkill" 
indicated in the above quoted ordinance was Queen Lane. 
School Lane appears to have been originally an old trail leading 
down to the Wissahickon, which without having been formally 
laid out, was, nevertheless, used for a long time "on sufferance," 
and was also frequently spoken of as the "Cross Street," and 
sometimes as the "Cross Street to Schuylkill." 

This confusion of names seems to have existed at a very 
early period as the following extracts from the Court Records 
show. These records also throw considerable light upon the 
matter and confirm the idea that the original "Cross Street" 
must have been Queen Lane : 

MARCH SESSIONS, 1723. 

Palmer's Lane, now Indian Queen Lane, to Scott's Lane. 

GERMANTOWN AND ROXBOROUGH. 

And now here at this day, viz.: At the Sessions of the Peace held 

at Philadelphia for the said County, the 2d day of March, A. D. 1723, 

the aforesaid Peter Shoemaker, Hugh Evans, Robert Roberts and Andrew 

Robinson, return that pursuant to the aforesaid order of the Court that 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AX TOWN 409 

they have laid out the road from the Market Place in Germantown to 
Robert Roberts's Ferry, "Beginning at the lower end of the market place 
in Germantown, and running thence along the Market Street S. E. 74 
perches, thece according to the ancient records of Germantown along a 
Cross street of the said town, between the land of Herman Tunen and 
Paul Wolfe — South west 258 perches, thence South 9 degrees West 17 
perches, thence South 68 degrees West 29 perches, thence South 33 
degrees West 227 perches, by a line of marked trees to the line of Wil- 
liam Palmer's lands. This part vacated by act of Assembly, March 20, 
1730 — Thence S. by E. 52 perches to William Palmer's house, thence S. 
12 degrees W. 12 perches, thence S. 36 degrees W. 20 perches, thence 
S. 61 W. 20 perches. Thence S. 32 W. 28 perches to the road leading 
from Andrew Robinson's (Robeson's) mill to Philadelphia, thence along 
said road South; thence N. 69 degrees W. 22 perches, thence S. 73 de- 
grees W. 30 perches, thence N. 18 degrees W. 14 perches, thence 13 
degrees E. 24 perches by the side of the river Schuyllvill to the place 
of landing. 

And now, Ludwick Christian Sprogell objecting against the confir- 
mation of the said road, — it is ordered that he have time till the next 
session to show wherefore the said road should not be confirmed. And 
now at this day, to wit, at the Sessions of the Peace held at Philadelphia 
the 1st day of June, 1724, the allegations of the said Sprogell being 
considered, the said road as it is now laid out is by this Court con- 
firmed. (Road Docket, Vol. 2, p. 104.) 

The fact that the said Cross Street referred to in this docu- 
ment is declared to be between the lands of Herman Tunen and 
Paul Wolfe, shows that it could have been no other than the 
present Queen Lane. 

There was an e^'ident misunderstanding about the laying 
out of this road, many supposing that what is now called School 
Lane was intended. This is shown in the following petition : 

JUNE SESSION, 1723. 

This petition of the inhabitants of Germantown humbly showeth, 
That, whereas, there was an order of the last Court to lay out a road 
from the market place in Germantown to the new Ferry over the Schuyl- 
kill, and in pretence to the pursuant of the said order, the persons 
appointed to lay out the said road have instead of going along the lane 
from the market place which is the common road to Robeson's mill and 
the paper mill, and was as we humbly conceive the true intent of the 
said road if confirmed according to the return of the last survey, will 
be prejudicial to the neighborhood that it will cut their lots (being but 
fourteen perches and four foot broad, and nearly one mile long) there- 
fore we humbly pray that the said road may be laid out from the said 
Market Place to run up Schuylkill Lane by John Ashmead's as we hum- 
bly conceive was the intent of said order and was our own request, and 
your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray, etc. (Road Docket, 
Vol. 2, pp. 105-6.) 



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HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 411 

It is evident that this last petition refers to School Lane. 
It seems probable that the confusion arose from the fact that 
m both instances the starting place is mentioned as being from 
the Market Place in Germantown Now, the original tract set 
apart for a market place was in Paul Wulfif's lot, just south of 
Queen Lane. From some causes the people did not regard 
this as the proper locality for a market place, and in May, 1704, 
the Commonalty purchased the presnt Market Square from 
James De la Plaine. It is probable that the name of the "Mar- 
ket Place" may still have clung to the old locality below Queen 
Lane for some years after the removal of the market to Market 
Square. It is most likely that this use of the name "Alarket 
Place" in connection with the two localities w^as the cause of 
this misunderstanding. 

The following from the Court Records will show that al- 
though what we call School Lane had been used as a road, yet 
it was only "on sufferance:" 

DECEMBER SESSION, 1723. 
Divers of the inhabitants of Germantown, Roxborough and Merion, 
by their petition desiring that the road from the Market Place of Ger- 
mantown to Andrew Robinson's (Robeson's) mill and Ferry, and from 
the landing place of said Ferry through Merion ito the great road leaa- 
ing from Conestoga (Old Lancaster Road) to Philadelphia (the said 
road having been used with great conveniency to the said petitioners 
for upwards of 30 years last past, but being only on sufferance), might 
be confirmed, which being considered by the Court, they do appoint 
Robert Evans, Robert Roberts, William Palmer, Jacob Duberry, Henry 
Scull, and Anthony Klenking to view the said road and make return to 
the next Court in order to be confirmed. (Road Docket, Vol. 2, p. 108.) 

The following references are also of interest in connection 
with the laying out of these two streets : 

DECEMBER SESSION, 1723. 
GERMANTOWN. 
Upon the petition of divers of the inhabitants of Germantown, etc., 
requesting that a road might be laid out from the Market Place of the 
said town to Roberts' Ferry as might be most convenient to the said 
inhabitants. The Court having taken the same into consideration do 
appoint Hugh Evans, Robert Roberts, Andrew Robeson, Martin Jarvis, 
Peter Shoemaker, and Edward Farmer or any four of them to lay out 
the same and make return to the Court. — (Road Docket, Vol. 2, p. lOS.) 

DECEMBER SESSION, 1759. 
Upon the petition of divers of the inhabitants of Blockley and Ger- 
mantown, setting forth that there was a great necessity for a road to 
be laid out from the Wissahickon Road near a ferry lately erected by 



412 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMAXTOWN 

Phineas Roberts above the Falls to the upper end of the lane commonly 
called Palmer's Lane, and Germantown Road in the best and most con- 
venient place for wagons or timber wheels, and it will be a much nearer 
way than from any other ferry from Conestoga Road to Germantown, 
and also from Germantown to the neighboring part over Schuylkill, and 
very useful and convenient to the inhabitants of Germantown and parts 
adjacent to carry their timber to and from William Palmer's saw mill 
and praying that he Court would be pleased to appoint persons to view 
and lay out said road. The Court do order that James Coultas, Edward 
Jones, Jacob Keyser, James Jones Baltus Raser, and William Thomas, 
or any four of them, do view, and if they see occasion, lay out the said 
road and make report of their doings to next Court, and whether it be 
for public or private use. (Road Docket, Vol. 3, p. 248.) 

MARCH SESSION, 17C0. 

From the Wissahickon Road to the Germantown Road. 
Pursuant to the within order to us, the subscribers directed, we have 
viewed and laid out a road, Beginning at the easterly side of the Wissa- 
hicken Road thence on Redman Robinson's land, north fifty-one aegrees 
east nine perches to a stake, thence north sixty-three degrees east, four- 
teen perches and a half to a stake, thence north seventy-two degrees east 
fifteen perches to a stake, thence north eighty-four degrees east, thirty- 
seven perches to a stake near the northeast corner of William Smith's 
land, thence on the lands of George and William Palmer, north sixty-six 
degrees east fifty-eight perches to Palmer's road leading to Germantown; 
the whole being one hundred and thirty-three perches and a half, which 
we think will be of public use and benefit, but submit it to the Court 
for confirmation — a plan of the said road being annexed. 

JAMES COULTAS, 
EDWARD JONES, 
JACOB KYSER, 
JAMES JONES, 
BALTUS RASER. 

The Court confirmed the road and ascertained the breadth 
of it to be forty feet. (Road Docket, Yo\. 3. p. 256.) 

SEPTEMBER SESSION, 1765. 
School House Lane and Merion Road, Montgomery County. 
This is merely a record of the courses and distances of "a road laid 
out from the Market Place in Germantown to Andrew Robinson's (Robe- 
son's) mill and Ferry, and from thence to Merion to the great road lead- 
ing from Conestoga to Philadelphia." (Road Docket, Vol. 3, p. 337.) 

Merion, Roxborough and Germantown. 
"It is an order of the Court, on the motion of Benjamin Chew, Esq., 
that the breadth of the aforesaid road be forty feet, it being neglected 
to be recorded by the former clerk." (Road Docket, Vol. 3, p. 338.) 

JUNE SESSION, 177S. 
Germantown and Roxborough. 
"The petition of John Redman and Nathaniel Falconer was read, set- 
ting forth that at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, held at 
Philadelphia for the County of Philadelphia, aforesaid, the first day of 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 413 

June, 1724, the Court confirmed a road beginning at tlie lower end of 
tlie marlvet place in Germantown and running thence according to the 
ancient records of Germantown along a Cross street of the said town 
between the land of Herman Tunen and the land of Paul Wolfe, South- 
west 253 perches, etc." 

Then follows a list of the courses and distances. 

"But the breadth of the said road was not ascertained, and it was not 
mentioned whether it was intended for public or private use, and pray- 
ing that the Court will be pleased to ascertain the breadth of the said 
road, etc." 

The Court therefore appointed a commission to "lay out, 
ascertain breadth and whether for public or private use." (Road 
Docket, Vol. 4, pp. 41-42.) 

SEPTEMBER SESSION, 1773. 
The petition previously given w^as reported upon, fixing the breadth 
of the road at forty feet. 

Then follows a list of the courses and distances. 

"To the road leading from the late Andrew Robeson's — now John Van- 
dever's mill to Philadelphia — nearly in the place where the road is now 
in use, which we apprehend ought to be for public use, and forty feet 
wide from Roxborough line to the road leading from Vandever's mill 
to Philadelphia." 

The Court confirmed this report. (Road Docket, Vol. 4, 

PP- 54-55-) 

From the foregoing Court Records it seems clear that the 
street we now call Queen Lane was laid out. that is, the various 
courses and distances were definitely fixed June i, 1724, but 
that its width was not a matter of record until September, 1773. 

It is also clear that what we now call School Lane was laid 
out, definitely, and confirmed by the Court in March, 1760, the 
breadth of it being fixed at forty feet. 

A draft of Christian Lehman's, drawn ]\Iarch 4, 1772, gives 
the width of Queen Lane as fifty feet. It seems possible that 
this survey by Christian Lehman may have created some dissat- 
isfaction, and led to the petition of John Redman and Nathaniel 
Falconer, which was presented to the Court at the June session, 
in 1773. 

A draft of Christian Lehman's made February 26, 1759, 
records School Lane as "A 40 Feet Lane or Cross Street leading 
to the Skullkill." 



THE FIRST PROTEST AGAINST SLAVERY 

Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker, Governor of Pennsylvania, 
in his "Settlement of Germantozvn," speaks of the signing of this 
remarkable document as an event which at that time produced 
no commotion and attracted but little attention, and yet, "A lit- 
tle rill there started which further on became an immense torrent, 
and whenever hereafter men trace analytically the causes which 
led to Gettysburg and Appomattox, they will begin with the 
tender consciences of the linen weavers and husbandmen of 
Germantown." 

It has been thought that the document was written by Pas- 
torius, as the handwriting resembles his, but the remarkably 
curious spelling is quite unlike the spelling in other documents 
written by Pastorius, who was a well-educated man. 

The protest is usually spoken of as having been issued by the 
Friends or Quakers, and much controversy has arisen as to whe- 
ther it can properly be claimed to have been issued by that body. 
In affirmation of the point, the late AA'illiam Kite, the venerable 
librarian of the Friends' Free Library of Germantown. in a paper 
entitled "First Gcnnan Friends" makes the following statement : 

"That Pastorius was not only a member, but one in full unity with 
the Friends, is clearly evinced by the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting 
appointing him and two others of the original signers of the Protest, 
representatives to the Yearly Meeting to deliver it on their — the Quar- 
terly Meeting's behalf. We will note also that both Francis D. Pastorius 
and Derick up de Grave, in the year 1692, four years later, signed the 
protest against George Keith and his schism, in the Yearly Meeting, an 
act they would not, and could not have done if they were not in mem- 
bership with Friends. We find other of the first German Friends remain- 
ing in after years among the Society. Thus, in 1695, we find Reiner 
Tyson serving Germantown Preparative Meeting as an overseer, and 
in 1705 subscribing to the "New Meeting House." Tennis Kunders also 
helped to build that house. In 1716-17 F. D. Pastorius and Peter Shoe- 
haker signed a release of claims on behalf of the Germantown Prepara- 
tive Meeting. In 1729 Thomas Chalkley records in his Journal being 
at Dennis Conrad's funeral, adding, "The first meeting for worship was 
held at his house." 

An excellent fac-simile copy of this protest has been made 
by the Friends at Germantown, through the influence of Wil- 
liam Kite. The original is much stained and is difficult to read, 
but the following is as nearly a correct transcription of it as 
can be made : 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 415 

This is to ye Monthly Meeting held at Rigert Worrells. These are 
the reasons why we are against the traffic of mensbody as followeth: Is 
there any that would be done or handled at this manner? viz. to be sold 
or made a slave for all the time of his life*? How fearful & faint- 
hearted are many on sea when they see a strange vessel being afraid 
it should be a Turck, and they should be tacken and sold for slaves in 
Turckey. Now what is this better done as Turcks doe? Yea rather is 
it worse for them, who say they are Christians for we hear, that ye 
most part of such Negers are brought heither against their will & con- 
sent, and that many of them are stoUen. Now tho they are black, we 
cannot conceive there is more liberty to have them slaves, as it is to 
have other white ones. There is a saying, that we shall doe to all men, 
licke as we will be done our selves; macking no difference of what gen- 
eration, descent of Colour they are. And those who steal or Robb men 
and those who buy or purchase them, are they not all alicke? Here 
is liberty of Conscience wch is right & reasonable, here ought to be 
lickewise liberty of ye body, except of evil doers wch is an other case. 
But to bring men hither or to robb and sell them against their will, we 
stand against. In Europe there are many oppressed for Conscience 
sacke; and here there are those oppressed wch are of a black Colour. 
And we who know that men must not commit adultery, some do commit 
adultery in others, separating wives from their husbands, and giving 
them to others, and some sell the children of those poor Creatures to 
other men. Oh, doe consider well these things, you who doe it, if you 
would be done at this manner? and if it is done according Christianity? 
you surpass Holland and Germany in this thing. This mackes an ill 
report in all those countries of Europe, where they hear off, that ye 
Quackers here doe handel men, Licke they handel there ye Cattle; and 
for that reason, some have no mind nor inclination to come hither. And 
who shall maintaine this your cause or plaid for it! Truly we can not 
do so except you shall inform us better hereof; viz, that christians have 
liberty to practise this thing. Pray! What thing in the world can be 
done worse towards us then if men should robb or steal us away & sell 
us for slaves to strange Countries, separating huband from their wife 
& children. Being now this is not done at that manner we will be done 
at, therefore we contradict & are against this traffick of men body. And 
we who profess that it is not lawful to steal, must lickewise avoid to 
purchase such things as are stolen, but rather help to stop this robbing 
and stealing if possibel and such men ought to be delivered out of ye 
hands of ye Robbers and set free as well as in Europe. Then is Pensil- 
Yania to have a good report, in stead it hath now a bad one for this 
sacke in other Countries. Especially whereas ye Europeans are desirous 
to know in what manner ye Quackers doe rule in their Province & most 
of them doe loock upon us with an envious eye. But if this is done 
well, what shall we say, is don evil? 

If once these slaves (wch they say are so wicked and stubborn men) 
should jonit themselves, fight for their freedom and handel their masters 
& mastrisses, as they did handel them before: will these masters and 
mastrisses tacke the sword at hand & warr against these poor slaves, 
licke we are able to believe, sonie will not refuse to doe? Or have 
these negers not as much right to fight for their freedom, as you have 
to keep them slaves? 


















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4i8 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

Now consider well this thing, if it is good or bad? and in case you 
find it to b good to handel these books at that manner, we desire and 
require you hereby lovingly that you may informe us herein, which at 
this time never was done, viz, that Christians have liberty to do so, to the 
end we shall be satisfied in this point, and satisfie lickewise our good 
friends and acquaintances in our natif Country, to whose it is a terrour 
or fairfull thing that men should be handled so in Pensilvania. 

This was is from our meeting at Germantown hold ye 18 of the 2 
month 1688 to be delivered to the monthly meeting at Richard Warrell's. 

gerret hendricks 
derick op den graeff 
Francis daniell Pastorius 
Abraham op Den Graef. 

In accordance with the intention expressed in the document, 
it was presented to the Monthly Meeting held at Richard Wor- 
rell's in Frankford, and the following extract from the minutes 
of that body shows the disposition made of it: 

"At our Monthly Meeting at Dublin, ye 30 2 mo. 1688, we having 
inspected ye matter above mentioned & considered it we finde it so 
weighty that we think it not Expedient for us to meddle with it here, 
but do Rather committ it to ye consideration of ye Quarterly meeting, 
ye tennor of it being nearly Related to ye truth, on behalfe of ye monthly 
meeting. 

signed, pr. JO. HART." 

The following extract from the minutes of the Quarterly 

Meeting shows in what manner that body disposed of it : 

"This above mentioned was Read in our Quarterly meeting at Phila- 
delphia the 4 of ye 4 mo. '88, and was from thence recommended to the 
Yearly Meeting, and the above-said Derick and the other two mentioned 
therein, to present the same to ye above-said meeting, it being a thing 
of too great weight for this meeting to determine. 
Signd by order of ye Meeting, 

ANTHONY MORRIS." 

And now the responsibility passes on to the Yearly Meeting 

of Friends which was held at Burlington, New Jersey, on the 

5th day of the 7th month, 1688. The action of that Meeting is 

shown in the following extract from the minutes : 

"A paper being here presented by some German Friends Concerning 
the Lawfulness and Unlawfulness of buying and Keeping of Negroes, It 
was adjudged not to be so proper for this Meeting to give a Positive 
Judgment in the case. It having so General a Relation to many other 
Parts, and, therefore, at present they forbear it." 

ANTHONY MORRIS." 

It cannot be supposed for a moment that this Protest was 
treated by the Yearly Meeting in a light or trivial manner, not- 
withstanding the apparently adverse action. These Yearlv 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 419 

Meetings of the Friends were far the most important meetings 
held by that Society. The matters considered by them always 
related to lines of action or events of great importance, and the 
discussions were characterized by courtesy, dignity and intense 
earnestness. It is impossible to determine exactly why the 
Protest was rejected by the Yearly Meeting; the reasons are 
probably somewhat complex. It must be remembered that 
large numbers of the English Friends were then slaveholders, 
even the great Proprietor himself. Indeed there were many 
who, so far from considering the practice of slaveholding repre- 
hensible, believed that in bringing the negroes from Africa to 
this country they were performing a meritorious act, because 
bv so doing the poor creatures were brought under the influence 
of the Gospel. The following advertisement from an old Phila- 
delphia newspaper indicates how lightly the matter was con- 
sidered in that Quaker Colony even many years after the issuing 
of this courageous little paper : 

To Be DISPOSED of, 

A Likely Servant Mans Time for 4 Years 
who is \rery well Qualified for a Clerk or to teach 
a School, he Reads, Writes, underftands Arithmetick aod 
Accompts very well. Enquire of the Printer hereof. 

Lately improted from Antigua 

and to be Sold by Edward Jones in 
Ifacc Norris*/ AUey. 

A PARCEL of likely Ne- 
gro Women &Girls from thirteen 
^fk-S.^c*' 5* to one and twenty Years of age, and have 
all had the Small -Pox. 

"" To Be SOLD, 

TWO verly likely Negroe 
Boys, Enquire o f Cam. Ben jaminCbri/- 
tiaHf at his Houfe in Arch-Street. 

Alfo a Quantity of very good Lime-juice 
to be Sold cheap. 

From a Philadelphia newspaper 

The minutes quoted clearly show that the great body of 
the English Friends were not yet prepared to declare themselves 
as opposed to slavery. The agitation, however, had been com- 
menced, and it would not down. Now and then the question 





420 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

kept cropping up in various ways, notably in the early years 
of the eighteenth century. In 1729 Ralph Sandiford issued a 
strong treatise against slavery. The overseers of the press of 
the Society of Friends were requested to undertaice its publica- 
tion, but declined. In 1737, Benjamin Lay, the celebrated her- 
mit of the York Road, who had associated himself with the 
Friends at Germantown, issued a volume entitled ""All Slave- 
keepers Apostates." His arguments seemed unanswerable, yet the 
Yearly Meeting at Burlington refused to approve his book. 

Great changes in public sentiment rarely take place sud- 
denly, and the noble stand which the Society of Friends event- 
ually took upon the subject of slavery did not come about as 
the result of a sudden impulse, but rather as a gradual evolution 
continued through a period of many years. 

Whether the little company of German emigrants who 
signed the First Protest were or were not Friends matters little. 
Quite certain it is that from them emanated an utterance which 
set others to thinking; thought gradually deepened into convic- 
tion, and, although long years elapsed first, it eventually came 
about that the Society of Friends became everywhere regarded 
as the great bulwark of opposition to slavery. 



SCHOOL HOUSE LANE 

Mr. William H. Emhardt furnishes the following interesting- 
information respecting School House Lane and its vicinity : 

The property on the south side of School House Lane, between 
Wayne Avenue and Wissahickon Avenue (formerly Township Line) was 
all owned by three persons. John Coulter owned from Wayne Avenue 
to west of Morris Street. Next came the lot of Dr. William Ashmead, 
and then, at the corner of School House Lane and Wissahickon Avenue, 
the property of Dr. Theodore S. Williams, which was afterwards pur- 
chased by Mr. E. W. Clarke, who erected his present mansion thereon. 
The Ashmead lot now belongs to Rev. William Ashmead Scliaeffer. On 
this lot was an Indian grave, marked with a large rock, and three sassa- 
fras trees, which I have often seen. Di\ William Ashmead said that 
his grandfather pointed this out to him. 

On the Coulter property there was a small one-story house, nearly 
opposite Pulaski Avenue, being the only house between Wayne Avenue 
and Township Line. This house was on the "Pear Orchard." There 
were but four houses on the north side of School House Lane between 
the streets named. The Coulter farm contained aoout 400 acres, includ- 
ing all the property from Wayne Avenue to Township Line, and from 
School House Lane to Queen Street, beside a number of lots in the 
adjacent neighborhood. The boys used to shoot meadow larks, reed 
birds, robins and woodcock on this farm about Morris and Coulter streets. 
John Coulter, over seventy years of age, would stand at the corner of 
School House Lane and Wayne Avenue, and call to his cowherd at 
Queen Street and Township Line; he could be easily heard at that dis- 
tannce. He had a fine residence east of Wayne Avenue, and kept sum- 
mer boarders. The Davis, Williams, Miles, Ashton, and Smiley families 
would often spend their summers there. 

The house on the north corner of School House Lane and Township 
Line was built by William A. Porter. The property on the west corner 
was owned by Wharton Chancellor; it now belongs to Justus C. Straw- 
bridge. In the meadow, west of where Chelten Avenue ends, was a 
spring-house, near the edge of the woods. The boys standing on Town- 
ship Line would shout, or whistle, when the sound would be repeated 
by echo. 

Wayne Avenue was originally laid out as a plank road, having two 
rows of planks with an earth hillock between. It commenced at Tulpe- 
hocken Street and extended along it to Manheim; thence to Pulaski 
Avenue; thence to what is now Sixteenth Street; thence down and 
across the Lamb Tavern Road; thence to Broad Street at the Punch 
Bowl Tavern, several squares above Monument Cemetery (a little back 
of what is now the northwest corner of Broad and Diamond Streets). 
There were no houses between the Punch Bowl and the Cemetery. On 
Broad Street, above the Punch Bowl, the gravel banks were located. 
Wayne Avenue, or the Plank Road, was a toll road. One gate was at 
Rittenhouse Street, but afterwards at School House Lane: one was at 
Manheim Street and Pulaski Avenue, and one other was further south. 



CARLTON 

On the west side of Queen Lane, just beyond Township 
Line Hes the estate known as Carlton, of which the following 
interesting account is given by Beatrice Clayton. It was pub- 
lished originally in the "Public Ledger;' and is reproduced here 
by permission : 

There was a great regret on the part of a large portion of the com- 
munity when Councils decided some time ago to locate filtering beds 
upon the site of the fine Germantown estate known as Carlton. The 




CARLTON 



fact that it covers the highest point of ground anywhere in the vicinity, 
made it especially desirable for filtering purposes; but patriotic citizens 
generally viewed with dismay the prospect of the fine old mansion 
invested with so many and such sacred historical associations, being 
razed to the ground. Very many magnificent trees, some flawless, per- 
fect after the growth of a hundred years, adorn the property; just within 
the entrance gate stands the finest copper beech to be found anywhere 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



423 



near, perhaps not in the whole of Pennsylvania. It was a sad thought 
that this monarch amorg trees should fall a victimi to the axe. The 
regret of the owner at parting with Carlton, which had been the 
property of his family for some sixty years, can be imagined. 

But now there is general rejoicing over the decision arrived at by 
the authorities that Carlton shall be saved. The plebeian but practical 
filtering beds will be located elsewhere, and the quaint old mansion, 
with its beautiful surroundings, will remain to tell succeeding genera- 
tions the story of the days long past, when Germantown was only a 
sparsely populated settlement! 

Carlton is said to have been named after an English castle which 
formed one of the favorite residences of good Queen Bess. The present 
estate, situated along Midvale Avenue, is only a portion of the large 
tract of ground originally deeded by William Penn, the proprietor, to 
John Lowther and Ann Charlotte Lowther, jointly, and comprising 5000 
acres. In 1731 this was sold by the Lowthers to one Joseph Turner, 
and by him resold to John Ashmead. A piece of land was then cut 

off the estate and sold, and from time 
to time other portions found different 
owners, considerably reducing the 
original tract. 

The main part of the old house, as 
it now stands, was erected in 1780, 
which date remains carven on one of 
the foundation stones of the rear 
porch. It is interesting to reflect that 
the building stands exactly upon the 
site of an old farm house, which was 
destroyed during the Revolutionary- 
War, and in which Washington made 
his headquarters immediately after 
the battle of Brandywine. On a pla- 
teau near the house, over which the 
visitor may now pass, was encamped 

I' _^' the main body of the Continental 

' army, consisting of troops from New 

Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vir- 
ginia and North Carolina. They num- 
bered perhaps 10,000, indifferently armed, ragged, lacking military disci- 
pline, but invincible in the ardor of patriotism. An entry in the journal 
of Adjutant-General Timothy Pickering reads: 

"August 1st, 1777, army arrived at this encamping ground, between 
Germantown and the Schuylkill river." 

The records of ownership are confused until the beginning of the 
last century, when we learn that Thomas Lee, brother of Bishop Lee, 
presiding dignitary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in that vicinity, 
became the proprietor of the estate and named it Roxborough. Visitors 
to Carlton may still observe a pane of glass in a rear bay window, on 
which appears, evidently scratched with a diamond, the signature, "M. 
R. Lee, 1827. Roxborough." This is the name of Mr. Lee's daughter, 
Mary, and it seems, indeed, a strange freak of fate that these words, 
traced most probably in an idle moment, have been preserved on their 
fragile tablet, while she who traced them has long been dead. 




INSCRIPTION ON WINDOW 
PANE AT CARLTON 



424 



HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 



Passing from the hands of the Lees, the estate became the property 
of John C. Craig, who married Miss Jane Josephine Biddle. Mr. Craig 
enjoyed wealth, and was such an admirer of blooded horses that he not 
only maintained an extensive stud, but laid out a race course on his 
grounds. He erected the two wings of the house, but did not live long 
enough to occupy these additions, for he went abroad while they were 
in progress of erection, and there died. The place was then sold to 
Cornelius S. Smith, whose descendant is still owner of it, by Mr. Craig's 
executor. It then covered eighty-four acres. 

From that day to this, though sixty years have elapsed, Carlton 
has undergone but little change. Visitors entering the grounds from 




TABLET IN WALL AT CARLTON 



Midvale Avenue, and reassuring themselves as to the intentions of a 
number of bulldogs, whose looks belie the placidity of their temperaments, 
see in the old house a very fine example of Colonial architecture. It is 
built entirely of stone, plastered and whitened, so that its exterior resem- 
bles the Haines house at Main Street and Walnut Lane. The partitions 
throughout are of solid stone, plastered without lathing. They built 
houses with a view to permanence in those days, disdaining to use un- 
seasoned tim.ber and crumbling brick. The central portion of the dwell- 
ing contains two stories, surmounted by an attic, which has two dormer 
windows. The mantlepieces in the sitting room and parlor are of pure 
white marble, fashioned in Colonial design of great beauty. 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



425 



The entrance hall, dividing the house, and containing a quaint grand- 
father's clock and numerous family portraits, is spacious beyond what 
people of moderate fortune can dream of in these days of high priced 
building lots, and the antique woodwork in the old staircase is pleasant 
to behold. All the rooms contain rare pieces of furniture, and in one 
of the largest there are said to be twelve pieces of mahogany furniture 
exclusive of others. Lawns on each side of the house afford a restful 
view of shrubbery and green sward. 

In front there is a fine piazza, paved with flags, the roof of which 
is supported by six pillars. In the rear of the hall, where there is an 
entrance from the carriage drive, after the fashion of English man- 




HifiiiiiiiiiiiW 



^^^^ 



TENEMENT HOUSES ON CARLTON ESTATE 



sions, there is a stone porch, the steps of which are a little sunken, but 
otherwise well preserved. Undermining the house is said to be a large 
cellar kitchen, and beneath that again a sub-cellar. Beneath the front 
piazza is a space reserved for a wine cellar, and under the back porch 
is a vault for the storage of meat. 

It is a matter of interest that at different times within recent 
years Indian arrow heads and copper pennies of the time of George the 
Fourth are said to have been dug up on the premises. Visitors remark 
that although the high stone wall protecting part of the grounds is 



426 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAXTOWN 

almost entirely covered with creeper, in one place the clinging tendrils 
have been turned aside in order to disclose a time stained tablet set into 
the wall. It is cracked across the middle, but bears this inscription: 

"Ruined by the war of 1777. 

Rebuilt more firm 1780 

by the trusty 

Isaac Tustin." 

These words have reference to an old house once part of the Carl- 
ton estate, which was pulled down some years ago. At that time the 
Smith family rescued the stone from vandals, and had it built into their 
wall. 

Visitors also note in the wall of the barn, standing just within the 
grounds, a large stone on which is carven a sheaf of wheat. This stone 
at one time occupied a place in the front of the old Fifth Street Market, 
upon the destruction of which, Mr. Smith claimed or purchased it for 
preservation. A sheaf of wheat is the crest of the Smith family. 

Cornelius S. Smith purchased the property in May, 1840, and be- 
queathed it in due course to his four children. The present owner is 
Mr. Robert S. Smith. 



SOWER'S NEWSPAPER 

In connection with the history of Christopher Saur's print- 
ing enterprises in Germantown, the following paper from the 
pen of the venerable Abraham H. Cassel, still living at an 
advanced age at Harleysville, Pa., will doubtless prove of inter- 
est. A copy of it in manuscript is in the collection of the 
Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Mr. Cassel, who is a great- 
great-grandson of the first Christopher Saur, wrote this paper 
in 1856. 

Next after the Almanac, the great desideratum of the Ger- 
man public was a newspaper in their own language, and for this 
purpose they made many and urgent applications to publish one. 
But he had no inclination thereto whatever, and as the press 
was a present from the parent church in Germany, so he con- 
sidered the entire establishment was erected and devoted to 
promote the glory of God and the good of mankind. His con- 
science therefore would not allow him to profane the press with 
the publication of a newspaper. He felt it incumbent upon him 
to make an explanation of the matter, and this he did in an 
editorial for his almanac, under date of August. 1738, as follows : 

"All those who have frequently Inquired, and who may yet in the 
future inquire whether there will not soon be a German newspaper pub- 
lished at Germantown, are informed herewith, that we are not at all 
inclined to destroy the precious time in such a manner as to be a hunt- 
ing something together that is of no use nor benefit, much less write 
lies and falsehoods to it — as is now too much the common way of the 
world. But for all who are willing to publish such intelligence (nach- 
richten) as are true and from which good may be hoped, as often as 
there may be occasion to do so." 

This he did in the form of broad sheets, or hand-bills, and 

distributed them gratuitously at the churches, in the markets, 

and at other places of public concourse, until encouraged by 

the good efifects which seemingly resulted therefrom. He began 

to alter his mind, and in another editorial of 1739 he says: 

"It is now made known that we intend for the future to publish a 
collection of useful and remarkable events and occurrrences partly from 
the kingdom of nature, and of whatever else may be in these times 
of wars and rumors of wars, from Europe as well as from other parts 
of the world, to obtain as far as we are able, reliable intelligence, as 



428 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

also certain and well- authenticated reports of the Church as far as may 
be of acknowledged practical utility. And as there are in this country 
(for which God be thanked) but few learned men — the majority being 
either native born or consist of farmers and mechanics. We shall there- 
fore make use of a very plain and simple style, so that it may be under- 
stood by all if possible, and may perhaps occasionally appear in the 
form of a dialogue. But we are not willing to bind ourselves absolutely 
to a specified time. Nevertheless we presume it shall appear about 
four times a year, viz.: on the 16th of November, the 16th of February, 
th 16th of May, and the 16th of August. The first number thereof is 
now coming forth as a specimen. Whoever therefore has a mind for 
it may mention his name either in Germantown to Christopher Saur, 
or to Johannes Wister in Philadelphia, that we can know about how 
many copies to print. The price may also then be ascertained." 

Accordingly the first number appeared and is now lying be- 
fore me, a venerable time-stained half sheet of four pages, meas- 
uring 8 by 13 inches, and entitled "Dcr Hoch-Dcutsdi Pennsylva- 
nische Geschicht-S chrcihcr , odcr Sanimlung Wichtiger Nachricliten aus 
der Natur iiiid Kirchen-Reich," or in English, "The High Dutch 
Pennsylvania Historiographer, or Collection of Important Events 
from the Kingdom of Nature and of the Church." No. i was issued 
August 20th, 1739, and contained no statement in regard to 
either price, or publisher's name. 

(In this statement j\Ir. Cassel has undoubtedly made an 
oversight. Prof. Martin G. Brumbaugh, in his "History of the 
BrctJircii," has given an excellent reproduction of the pages of 
this paper, and the signature Christoph Saur is attached at the 
close of the last page.) 

As it is perhaps the only copy of it in existence, I will for 
the sake of its curiosity, give an extract from his preface, and a 
short synopsis of its contents, as follows — first from the preface, 
in which he says : 

"Courteous Reader: 

Among other idols which a coarse and refined world of so-called 
Christians serves, is not the least, the Inquisitiveness, Curiosity, and 
great desire. To see, to hear, to know, and also to say often something 
new. To sacrifice to this Atheniensian spirit now by the issue of this 
"collection," we are not at all inclined, and less still to expand ourselves, 
or to seek honor and profit thereby. But having heretofore promised 
to publish the most useful and important events and occurrences, and 
also because memorable facts, when they are heard or read, often cause 
a deeper impression and reflection than things that happen daily. We 
therefore make hereby a beginning with such signs of the times as have 
lately and truly occurred in this and other parts of the world, in hope 
that it will not be altogether without any use, or at least will awaken 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 429 

and cause a looking up with some who read it. There may also in 
future be given in this "collection" some remarks, and questions suit- 
able to the times for serious minds to consider, or even to give some 
sincere answer thereupon. 
Meanwhile, 

Farewell, dear Reader, what we tell 

Use as you ought, yea, use it well." 

The next article gives a brief account of wars between the 
Persians and the Turks in Asia, and between the Sultan and the 
Great Mogul in Africa, which being barely concluded was fol- 
lowed by one between the Turks and the confederated Russians 
and Austrians in Europe, yet raging, and others on the point 
of breaking out, in which all the powers of Europe, and all the 
colonies in America would be more or less entangled — with the 
exception of Holland, which was at that time a Republic and the 
chief maritime power. Of this power he says : 

"What Holland is going to do in this case will not be long a secret. 
For they sit, as it were, in the midst. As long as they remain neutral 
they can trade with them all, but if they allow their neighbors to be- 
come too powerful, then — the Romans will come and take away their 
land and nation etc." 

After a few more reflections on the foregoing he next gives 
the Proclamation of George Thomas, the Royal Governor of 
Pennsylvania at that time, with the authority of the King of 
England, to "take reprisals against the King of Spain, his ves- 
sels and subjects, for damage done to British vessels, &c.," which 
he concludes with a poetical effusion of his own, so sublime that 
I shall attempt no translation thereof, exposing the inconsist- 
ency of so-called Christians in making war and killing each 
other. 

Next, under the head of "Germantown," is a lengthy rela- 
tion of an attempted murder and robbery at Falkner's Swamp, 
on the 1 2th of August, 1739. 

Next follows an accottnt of an accident in which one neigh- 
bor killed another by mistake while hunting. Seeing something 
move in the thicket he thought it was the white bosom of a deer, 
and leveling his gun shot his neighbor, James Shann, dead on 
the spot. 

Two advertisements follow, which conclude the paper. They 
are of a kind seldom found among the advertisements of the 
present day. One speaks of a piece of gold that was found, 
-and the other that a man's coat was found in the street or high- 



430 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

way, and that the owners of either should prove property and 
receive it again without any charges or costs. 

Thus was the first number completed, and thus was the first 
German literary and religious periodical of America established. 
Simple and unassuming as it was in its external appearance, it 
nevertheless speedily obtained a very extensive circulation 
through the tact and shrewdness of its management. Mr. Saur 
issued the first number gratuitously, and as there was no adver- 
tising medium in those days by which to bring the knowledge 
of a thing before the German public, but by the Almanac, he 
commenced his paper just as the Almanac for 1740 was going 
to press. In this he published his prospectus, and to it he 
appended the first number of the paper. As the Almanac had 
a very extensive sale, the paper attached to it was at once intro- 
duced into almost every family throughout the German settle- 
ment, without any extra costs or charges for its transportation 
at a time when there was neither a mail service nor a post office 
in the colony. 

Encouraged by its unexpected success, he soon enlarged his 
paper, and from January, 1741, he issued it nionthly at three 
shillings a year. His card and price were now printed at the 
bottom of the last page of each issue. The paper soon attracted 
such attention that he was crowded with contributions, news,, 
advertisements, etc., so as to frequently demand an extra and 
very often a double number. Thus he proceeded until 1748. 
From that time on it was with few exceptions printed twice a 
month, but only numbered and charged for as monthly. The 
intermediate issues were gratis until 1762, after which is was 
numbeied semi-monthly till January, 1755. When his son Chris- 
topher (3) came of age. he took him in as a partner, and from 
that time they printed and numbered the paper weekly. 

Its size was increased five times: First, in January, 1741, to 
10 by 15; second, in 1754, to 13 by 16; third, in 1756, to 14 by 
17; fourth, in 1762, to 15 by 20; fifth, in 1775, to 16 by 22. It 
had only two columns on a page from the commencement till 
1762, when he gave it three columns and somewhat smaller 
type. In 1775 the type was still finer, so that in appearance it 
was equal to a modern Philadelphia paper. What is most sin- 
gular is the fact that notwithstanding the changes in size, the 
price remained the same. By a fair measurement, one of the 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 431 

weekly numbers contained as much matter as three of the 
monthly numbers did, and for the first thirteen years, 52 of the 
weeklies against 12 of the monthlies would stand in the pro- 
portion of 12 to 156. Notwithstanding this remarkable dififer- 
ence he held undeviatingly to his same old price of three shil- 
lings a year. 

I am well aware that some of these statements are contra- 
dicted by Mr. Thomas, by J. F. Watson, and others, who men- 
tion that Saur published a weekly paper long before the above 
dates. Those statements are errors. I have his papers all in 
regular file, besides other original documents and memorandums, 
some in his own handwriting, which corroborate my account. 
The authors mentioned could not have had access to these docu- 
ments or they would not have made such gross errors. Mr. 
Thomas, for instance, says in his ^'History of Printing in America:" 
"Saur commenced a quarterly paper in 1735, and the same pub- 
lished the first German Almanac." As a fact, the printing office 
was not established until the autumn of 1738, and he printed 
neither paper nor almanac before 1739. Other errors prove that 
Mr. Thomas had not reliable sources of information. J. F. Wat- 
son, in his "Annals;" follows the same track, and says : "From and 
after 1744 it was printed weekly under the title of the German- 
town Gazette." The fact is that it was not printed weekly until 
1775, and was not called "Gazette" until some time after 1762. 

He was often and urgently requested to print it weekly, and 
when in 1743 Mr, Crellius, of Philadelphia, published his pros- 
pectus for issuing a weekly paper, it was, through a misunder- 
standing, reported that Saur intended to publish a weekly. 
Whereupon he answered in an editorial of July i6th, 1743, that 
it was altogether false, and in answer to the many inquiries 
concerning it, he would "hereby inform one and all," that he 
was not willing "neither now nor in future to publish a weekly, 
because as it is called a recorder of events from the kingdom of 
nature and of the church, it should contain events, not reports, 
as is too often the case." 

Although he was getting sixteen papers a month, he could 
scarcely find enough in them all that had the appearance of 
truth and usefulness to fill his little monthly. Often what they 
reported as truth were self-evident falsehoods, in which he took 
no delight. Often when an article had the appearance of truth 



432 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

and veracity it afterwards proved not to be so. And should he 
but touch a Httle on the church as it is, in this our day, either 
from his own observations or from other rehable sources, then 
ill-will, spite and anger is sure to be manifested by one or the 
other party. 

After thus stating his objections to publishing a weekly 
edition, he said : "Whoever will have a paper every week may 
go to Joseph Crellius, next door to David Taschler, where he 
can get one, as good as he has it, — or as he is able to get it, 
with English letters till German can be procured, for lo shillings 
a year, or 2 shillings 6 pence a quarter, etc." 

He was extremely conscientious, and would not knowingly 
publish anything but what was true and useful. With all his 
carefulness, however, he was so frequently deceived that he 
doubted whether it was wise to continue the publication of his 
paper. But in behalf of the many solicitations from his friends 
he still continued. On the i6th of October, 1745, he changed 
its title from "Geschicht Schreiher," recorder of events, to that 
of "Berichte," reporter of events, — leaving the rest of the title 
as it was before. The reasons for this change are given by him- 
self in an editorial of January, 1746, in which he says, that with 
his utmost care to publish nothing but what was real and true, 
he afterwards discovered to his great mortification that it was 
often neither real nor true — that it was not a "geschichte" — an 
event — but merely a "Bericht," a report, or feigned fiction. He, 
however, expressed the determination, if he continued to print 
newspapers, to publish only that which appeared to be most 
credible and useful. 

Under this new title the paper was continued until about 
1762, when, on account of reasons not fully explained, he was 
induced to make another change, and from that time on it 
appeared under the heading of the "Gcrmantoivncr Zcitnng, odcr 
sammlung W ahrsclicinlicher Nacliricliten aits der Natiir und Kirchoi- 
Reich, wie mich auf das Gemeine Besfe angeschene Nuetdich Untcrricht 
und anmerkungen," or, in English, "The Germantown Gazette or 
collection of creditable reports from the Kingdom of Nature and 
the Church, as also for the common good designed useful in- 
structions and remarks." With this title it was continued until 
1775, when its appendages were put away and the paper was 
published from that date under the simple heading of the "Ger- 
mantown Gazette" (Zeitung). 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 433, 

As already remarked, the paper had a very extensive circu- 
lation, and this increased so fast that they could not get the 
paper out by the specified time. At first, when monthly, it was 
regularly issued on the i6th of the month; when semi-monthly, 
on the ist and i6th, until September, 1756, then to accommodate 
the public with a paper every week, they made arrangements 
with Gotthard Armbruster, the editor of a semi-monthly paper 
in Philadelphia (see Note i) to publish it regularly on every 
alternate Saturday, thus giving 26 numbers instead of 24, and 
thereby answering the demand for a weekly paper, besides facili- 
tating his own issues in having the whole week in which to 
accomplish it. 

In an editorial of November, 1751, i\Ir. Saur gives the num- 
ber of his subscribers as about 4000, and states that the num- 
ber is still on the increase, but that many were negligent in 
making payment. In another editorial of May, 1775, he reminds 
the forgetful ones that they have received his paper for many 
years without paying anything for it, and that the multitude of 
such subscribers increases the cost of getting out the paper. 

Further on he says : "Three hundred are at present going 
out along the Conestoga Road, and whoever will have his sent 
to him with the post rider, must henceforth satisfy the post rider 
himself for bringing it (see Note 2), and while the packages 
going to Lancaster are so large that the teamsters with wagons 
refuse to take them along, and very often, too, they have no 
large bag or sack with them for to take them, therefore we can 
do nothing to help their irregular coming, but beg for a little 
more patience." 

"Those who have not paid anything these 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 
or 13 3'ears can with the rest pay to ^Ir. Ludwig Laumon in 
Lancaster, where each one can see how much he is in arrears 
with us for his paper. And whoever cares about knowing, can 
also see there — that these many years there was scarcely 11 
pounds paid for all the papers. And if it shall continue thus 
yet many years longer, that the income does not pay for half 
the paper. Then many of the packages may become small enough 
for the future." 

In the year 1756, he says: "While the lovers of the news- 
paper are so fast increasing, that their number is actually be- 
coming a burden, yet the number of punctual payers is so few 



434 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAN TOWN 

that the income scarcely covers the outlay. The printer would, 
therefore, beg the honest and well-disposed ones not to forget 
to pay him. It is partly to their excuse that they are so scat- 
tered so many hundreds of miles abroad, and that the poorest 
of them never come this way. Notwithstanding there are oppor- 
tunities given whereby the most of them could pay if they so 
disposed." He then goes on to inform subscribers in Virginia, 
Maryland, and other States where they may pay. 

Under date of June, 1758, he says : "While the subscribers 
to the paper are daily increasing, and our edition is already so 
large that we can scarcely get it through the press in proper 
time, we would ask all who may have advertisements or any- 
thing else to be inserted, that they will bring or send it in by 
Thursday evening that it may not be too late for insertion." 

In the issue of April, 1759, he says: "Whoever wishes to 
subscribe for this paper — if by sending word, must write or get 
it written, in a right plain hand, or it will not be attended to. 
And all those who owe us for three years and over, and who 
have otherwise not a good reputation, need not take it amiss of 
the printer if he encloses a little note to put them in mind of 
it — or even if he should write something else on it that they 
do not like to read — they must not blame him for it, nor think 
hard of it, for it is not the printer's fault, but their own in being 
so delinquent in paying him. And those also whose paper may 
not come any more hereafter — they need not wonder at the rea- 
son why it doesn't. But while we hear that many are honest 
and would like to pay for their paper if they had an opportunity 
to do so, we would therefore inform them by the following notice, 
where and to whom they may pay. Where they pay they may 
also see by a duplicate list from our books how each one's 
account stands with us, &c." Then follows the names and resi- 
dences of his several agents. 

I have no correct data from which to calculate the extent 
of its greatest circulation, but from what has been said, I pre- 
sume it could not have been much short of 8,000 or 10.000 — a 
surprising number in the history of newspaper circulations of 
that early day. 

At first all advertisements were inserted gratis, but he was 
soon so crowded with them that he began to make a small 
charge, but only for those who were non-subscribers. While 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 435 

he would not take double pay, that is, for the paper and for what 
it contained, he published extras and double numbers with what 
he realized from the advertisements. From about 1748 the pro- 
ceeds therefrom was sufficient to support a regular intermediate 
issue. In May, 1755, he announced that advertisements of a 
general character or what were for the good of the public, would 
still be inserted gratis. But such as were of a private nature, 
or for the good and benefit of a single individual, should here- 
after pay five shillings for three insertions if not altogether too 
large. 

Several years after, on account of its extensive circulation, 
the paper was much used as an advertising medium, not only 
by the merchants of Philadelphia, but also by the government for 
the advertising of strays, &c., which at that time, on account 
of the lack of proper fences, were so numerous that Conrad 
Weiser (the lawyer) frequently had from five to twenty strays 
advertised in one paper. The landholders also advertised so 
largely in his paper that in 1758 he was so burdened with adver- 
tisements that he begged of his patrons that if they had found 
their cow, or horse, or sold their properties, and so had their 
wishes accomplished, they would inform him of it and receive 
the balance of their money back, so as to make room for some- 
thing else. His customary rule was for ordinary advertisements 
of three insertions, if not too large, five shillings. If the first 
insertion accomplished its design, two shillings were returned. 
If the second accomplished it one shilling was returned. For 
other advertisements of longer continuance, three shillings were 
charged for the first, and one shilling for each subsequent in- 
sertion. 

Saur's newspaper was altogether unique. As has been 
already said, every page was replete with useful instruction and 
pious admonitions. As its establishment was solely designed 
to promote the glory of God among his fellow men, he let no 
opportunity pass unimproved to impart a word of edification 
and good advice. He would often take occasion from the com- 
monest of every day occurrences to comment by way of exhor- 
tation, and would see something of Providence in almost every 
event of life, through which he would often reach the hearts 
of his readers, where no one else would have thought about 
making any such application. Thus when there was a fore- 



436 HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 

boding calamity he would endeavor to awaken the public not 
only to a sense of their external duty, but also to a spirit of 
watchfulness and prayer. When the armies of the French insur- 
gents were approaching and allied themselves with our Indian 
neighbors, the hearts of the colonists began to fail for fear and 
expectation, but he buoyed them up with hope, and inspired 
them with confidence in the Divine protection, showing them 
by numerous examples from his observations how the Lord 
had always helped those who obeyed and feared him. 

The public, and especially the Friends, on account of his 
known integrity, placed such implicit confidence in him that 
with a few editorials he would often sway the minds of the mul- 
titude so completely as to carry all before him at the ballot box. 
Numerous incidents might be cited to prove this assertion, but 
I shall only refer to his paper of September i6, 1748, and to a 
Mss. pamphlet cited in Watson's Annals, page 256. Mr. Wat- 
son also published a picture of an election held at Philadelphia 
in the old Court House. In this picture the people of German- 
town are seen going down in great numbers, and are shown in 
a long file of two by two approaching the polls. 



NOTES 

1. Gotthard Armbruster was an apprentice of Christopher Saur, and 
when he was master of the art he moved to Philadelphia and estab- 
lished a German weekly and semi-monthly paper — weekly at ten shil- 
lings, and semi-monthly at six shillings a year. The first number was 
issued on the 27th of May, 1748. Mr. Saur published Armbruster's pros- 
pectus, and after inviting the public to patronize him, he concluded 
with the memorable postscript, that he "would only beg of those dila- 
tory and dishonest ones who never pay for their paper, that they would 
not serve this man as they do me." 

2. In the beginning the papers were all sent according to opportunity 
by means of teams, travelers, etc. Afterwards he had a kind of dis- 
tributing agent in Philadelphia by the name of Kopple. To this man 
Mr. Saur consigned all his packages. Kopple then went about from 
tavern to tavern and from market to market, to seek opportunities for 
forwarding the packages to their destination. In the spring and fall 
of the year these opportunities were frequent, but through the summer 
and winter the patience of the subscribers was often severely tested. 
In consequence of these difficulties he united with several English pub- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 437 

lishers of the city in a joint arrangement with George Honig to ride 
the post on pack horses between Philadelphia and Lancaster. He also 
rode several other routes at the individual expense of the several pub- 
lishers. These trips were made every fortnight. The contract at first 
was made for just the dull season, but after a time the service was 
continued throughout the year at the expense of the subscribers. They, 
however, protested against such charges, and contended that Mr. Saur 
was obliged to forward the paper to them free of expenses for carriage. 
He replied that he might do this for those who paid punctually, but it 
was impossible to do so for those who were in arrears for 6, 7 or 8 
years, especially as he was giving them from 10 to 12 papers gratis. 
He thought they would have sufficient consideration to bear that trifling 
expense themselves. Some of the subscribers complied but the majority 
would not. After two years' riding Mr. Honig tried to collect his fees, 
and refused to bring any more papers in future to those who would 
not give him at least something for serving them punctually. After 
this time teamsters who had formerly been willing to convey the pack- 
ages were not so accommodating, and much dissatisfaction existed 
among subscribers because of frequent irregularity in delivery. These 
troubles, which continued until regular lines of conveyance were estab- 
lished, caused Mr. Saur much annoyance and anxiety. 



THE GERMANTOWN LIBRARY COMPANY 

In speaking of the building that once stood on the north- 
west corner of School House Lane and Germantown Avenue, 
mention was made of the fact that it was once occupied by the 
now almost forgotten Germantown Library. In the following 
interesting note by Charles J. Wister he states that the building 
now No. 5506, was also at one time the home of the Library: 

My father was interested in many institutions, both literary and 
scientific, in the city, prominent amongst which was the "Philadelphia 
Library Company," his membership in which he inherited from his 
uncle, William Wister, it bearing the date of March 2, 1792. When my 
father took up his residence in Germantown he joined a number of gen- 
tlemen in the establishment of a Library in the place. Among those 
who joined him in this effort were Mr. Benjamin Chew, Mr. John John- 
son and Dr. George Bensell. Application was made to the trustees of 
the Germantown Academy for permission to use one of their rooms tem- 
porarily for the storing of their books until suitable accommodations 
could be found elsewhere. This request was granted. 

My father was likewise elected Secretary of the first Board of Direc- 
tors of the Bank of Germantown, which was instituted in 1814, and 
continued to take a most active part in all its transactions during the 
remainder of his life. The first of these of which I shall attempt any 
history is perhaps the least important on the list, strictly local in its 
character, and probably never heard of beyond the precincts of the 
village, — "The Germantown Library Company." My father's share of 
stock in the company bears date 1808. He was for many years its 
Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Samuel Harvey being its President. These, 
with five other gentlemen of the village, constituted a Board of Direc- 
tors, by whom all the affairs of the company were managed. The room 
in the Academy was abandoned and one on the Main Street was taken. 
This was in a house situated four doors above School House Lane, and 
then occupied by Benjamin Davis as a school. Mr. Davis was a well- 
known and respected Friend. His daughter. Miss Grace Davis, acted 
as Librarian. After the death of Mr. Davis the company removed their 
property to the old Bensell house on the west corner of the Lane and 
Main Street. Here the Library remained until, for want of encourage- 
ment, it was abandoned. The Bensell house at that time was occupied 
by Stephen Boisbrun; the illiterate villagers, however, usually pro- 
nounced the name as if it were spelled Buberow. The name is of French 
origin, and signifies "brown wood." His occupation was that of a cupper, 
leecher and apothcary. The apartment devoted to the use of the library 
was a small room with a low ceiling. It was divided into two compart- 
ments, one of which was occupied by Mrs. "Buberow" as a confectionery, 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 439 

and by her husband as a pharmaceutist's shop. Their daughter, Miss 
Leger, acted as Librarian, the library occupying the other compartment. 
This incongruous arrangement gave to the interior a rather ludicrous 
aspect. On one counter might be seen displayed cakes of various descrip- 
tion, while close at hand was a profusion of powders and pills, vividly 
suggesting the idea that these latter were intended as antidotes for the 
use of persons who had indulged too freely in the tempting "goodies." 
Above all were the shelves arranged for the accommodation of the 
Library over which Miss Leger presided. Thus were the poison and 
the antidote brought into most convenient juxtaposition; the queen cake, 
for example, for which the "Buberows" were famous, rested suggestively 
near a bottle bearing the title IPECACUANHA. How suggestive of 
safety and of the extraordinary care for the comfort of customers this 
must all have seemed. 



HAT MAKING 

One of Germantown's Most Flourishing Industries From About 
1825 to About 1840 

When Francis Daniel Pastorius came to "German Town'' 
with the original settlers, they brought here one of the best 
combinations of artisans that ever landed in America. They 
were a hardy, industrious class, and it was their skill and 
indomitable energy and perseverance that made Germantown 
so prominent in the years gone by and so historical at this time. 
There were paper makers, type founders, weavers, tanners, 
coopers, shoemakers, hat makers and other tradesmen. For 
many years the Conestoga wagons were to be seen almost daily 
along Germantown avenue, loading with goods that the trades- 
people here exchanged for products of the field that were brought 
here by people from as far west as Pittsburg. This was before 
the days of the railroads, which began to be built about 1832. 
If the writer remembers correctly, the Philadelphia, German- 
town and Norristown Railroad was built in 1832. Other roads 
were started, and in a few years canals and railroads did the 
greater part of the traffic, and the Conestoga wagon began to 
go into decline as a freight carrier. 

About the year 1825 hat making was a flourishing industry 
in Germantown. There were at that time four hat shops, which 
employed jointly about one hundred hands, quite a good number 
for nearly eighty years ago. Jacob Green's shop was on Main 
Street, opposite what is now called Collom Street. Joseph 
Green had a shop on Main Street, below Armat. John Schaefifer 
had a shop in the buildings now standing on Main Street, oppo- 
site the Young Men's Christian Association, and John Bowman 
carried on the business on Main Street, where George Weiss' 
coal ofhce is located. 

The majority of the hats had what were known as wool 
bodies. They were shipped to every part of the country. The 
population of the whole country at that time was only about 
nine and a half millions, Pennsylvania being credited with a lit- 
tle more than a million, of which number more than two hun- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 441 

dred were slaves. Virginia had more people than Pennsylvania, 
but about one-half of her population were in slavery. Rich Vir- 
ginia slave owners often visited Germantown, and quite a large 
number of sales were made with that section, for Germantown 
hats were famous in Dixie in the winter months. 

About 1835 "brush hats" were quite a fad in Germantown. 
They were made of the skin of a Russian rabbit, which cost 
from $3 to $6 a pound. Beaver fur was worth from $16 to $20 
a pound in the early days of hat making in Germantown, but 
as it became scarce it advanced in price to $70 a pound. Each 
hat required about three ounces of fur to complete it. One 
style of hat was worn in those early days almost the entire year. 
Sometimes the fastidious ones wore a light fur in summer time 
and heavy dark fur in winter. There were a few straw hats 
worn in summer, but it was seldom that they were seen. 

Strikes were of frequent occurrence in those early days 
between the "foul" hatters and the men who combined togetehr 
for good wages. Pitched battles were of frequent occurrence, 
generally at the hotels, where the hatters congregated. The 
borough authorities were often called on to suppress the troub- 
les. A hatters' organization was continued here for several 
years, and officers were chosen regularly. At a public meeting 
of journeymen hatters, held at the public house of Joseph Mul- 
len, February 25, 1836, to form an association, Jacob Ployd was 
called to the chair, and Benjamin Dungan was appointed secre- 
tary. A committee of five, composed of Beach Humes, Thomas 
Marple, John Shields, Charles Honisen and Benjamin Dungan, 
was selected to draft a constitution and by-laws. At a meeting 
held in March, 1836, Jacob Ployd was again selected as Presi- 
dent; Benjamin Dungan, Vice-President; William H. Smith, 
Secretary; William Bowman, Treasurer; Stewards, Thomas 
Marple and Eli jMorgan. 

In March, 1837, Thomas Marple was elected President ; 
Henry B. Troutman, Vice-President; George W. Wright, Secre- 
tary, and William Bowman, Treasurer. 

The process of felting was thus described by the late Jacob 
Ployd to the writer a few years before his death : The fur of 
beavers, rabbits and other animals was mixed with wool, used 
for the production of felt hats. The first operation was to 
remove the fur from the skin of the animals. The wool and 



442 HISTORY OF OLD GERMAKTOWN 

fur fibres were agitated and tossed into the air, which caused 
them to fall with the greatest irregularity upon l table. The 
fur was interlaced in this way in every possible manner. The 
combination was then covered with a cloth, and reduced in 
thickness by pressure. Layer after layer was laid one upon the 
other, until the fabric of the hat had attained the proper thick- 
ness. This was called bowing, great skill being required on 
the part of the workmen. Competent bowers could make five 
or six bodies a day. 

The wages of a good hatter were about $7 a week, and they 
had steady work the year round. A number of our oldest 
families had representatives among the hat makers of seventy- 
five or more years ago. There were the Schaeffers. Shieldses, 
Bowmans, Sharplesses, Ployds, Murters, Greens, Roys, Keels, 
Jacksons, Elliotts, Evanses and Morgans. The Greens were 
the pioneers in improved hat making business here in German- 
town. 

Owing to strikes, the introduction of labor-saving machin- 
ery, and "wild cat" currency, the hat business began to decline in 
1840. With the panic of 1842 the hat shops of Germantown 
closed, to open no more, after occupying a prominent place here 
since 1683. Of course, the early hat makers used the skins of 
animals exclusively. 

The silk hat industry superseded the fur hat making in 
Philadelphia in 1843, and ^s this branch of the business was 
entirely foreign to the hat makers of Germantown, the hat 
makers gradually took up other vocations. 



FRANCIS DANIEL PASTORIUS 
The Founder of Germantown 

It was good news to many patriotic citizens of German- 
town when recently the will of Daniel P. Bruner was probated 
and found to contain a contingent bequest of $1000 for "the 
purchase of a suitable and lasting tablet, to be placed on the 
First Methodist Episcopal Church, Main and High Streets, Ger- 
mantown, to perpetuate the memory of Francis Daniel Pastorius, 
the founder of Germantown." Through intermarriages, Mr. 
Bruner was a descendant of Pastorius. 

Of the man under whose leadership a small colony of Ger- 
mans laid out the township wdiich they named after their own 
loved land, not so much seems to be known as ought to be, 
owing, doubtless, to the fact that in those earliest Colonial days 
printing presses were not in operation to make easy the preser- 
vation of records. The scattered facts relating to Pastorius's 
life have been gathered together, and very fully presented, by 
Judge Pennypacker, in his recent work on the "Settlement of 
Germantown," but even this gives us but a faint picture of 
Pastorius, the man, in the close relations of domestic life which 
most surely reflect character. 

Francis Daniel Pastorius, son of ^lelchior and Magdalena 
Pastorius, was born at Sommerhausen, September 26, 1651. His 
sponsors in baptism were Daniel Gering, Doctor of Law at 
Leghitz, and Franciscus Freyherr, of Limburg, from whom, of 
course, his Christian names were derived. According to cus- 
tom these sponsors gave him presents, one of them conferring 
on him "a scarlet coat, a little sword, a hat with a feather and 
little white boots." "Thus," as Pastorius commented in later 
years, "making a fool of me in my tender years." 

At the age of eleven he was sent to a gymnasium at Wind- 
heim, the teacher of which, Tobias Schumberg, knew no Ger- 
man, so that his pupils were obliged to converse with him in 
Latin. This indicates that his education in tongues, in the 
knowledge of which he afterwards excelled, was begun early. 
On July 31, 1668, he entered a school at Altdorf, and on August 
II, 1670, he went to the LTniversity of Strasburg, where he com- 



444 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

menced the study of law and French. In the course of succeed- 
ing years he continued a wide range of studies at a number of 
different schools, graduating in law from Altdorf on November 

23, 1675- 

Four years later Pastorius opened a private school at 
Frankfort-on-Mayne, and also found opportunity to practice law 
somewhat. Shortly afterward he began a tour through Holland, 
England, France and Switzerland, returning to Frankfort in 
November, 1682. Here, mingling with his friends and recount- 
ing the story of his travels, he heard much talk of Pennsylvania, 
and finding that already some good and religious people had 
resolved on emigration, he strongly desired to go with them, 
asserting that he had seen enough of the frivolities of Europe. 
His plans were soon made and his aft'airs quickly settled. 
Having secured his father's consent, he presented the books com- 
posing his library to his brothers, John and Samuel, and left 
Frankfort on April 2, 1683, possessed of two hundred rix dol- 
lars, or reichs thalers. 

First visiting friends in Kriegsheim and other towns, Pas- 
torius departed from Rotterdam for London on May 4, sailed 
from Gravesend on June 6 on board of the ship America, Captain 
Joseph Wasey, reached Deal on the 7th, and finally quitted the 
shores of England on the loth, arriving in the New World on 
the i6th of August. During the voyage a close friendship was 
knitted between himself and another passenger, Thomas Lloyd, 
afterwards Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania. 

On entering Philadelphia Pastorius immediately visited 
Penn, by whom he was most cordially received, and for whom 
he at once conceived affection. Many Philadelphians were then 
living in caves, thirty feet long by fifteen feet wide, and such 
was the first home of Pastorius. Very soon, however, he built 
himself a little house, using oiled paper instead of window glass, 
and writing over the door, "Parva domes scd ainica Bones, procul 
este Prophani," an inscription which greatly amused Penn. "The 
condition of the Quaker City at that time," says Judge Penny- 
packer, "can be imagined from the fact that on one occasion, in 
going from the river bank to the baker's shop of Cornelius Bom 
only a few streets distant, Pastorius lost his way." 

Pastorius purchased of William Penn 5700 acres of land, 
200 of which he retained himself, 150 going to one Jurian Harts- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 445 

felder, and 5350 to Pastorius as agent for the Frankfort Land 
Company. The following is his interesting record : 

"This town I founded in tlie 24th of October (168S), and called it 
German Town. It lies only two hours from here (Philadelphia), on 
pleasant, fruitful soil, near pleasant springs. This I had to do, because 
William Penn would give to no one his portion separately, but all must 
dwell in townships or towns, and this not without reason, most import- 
ant of which is that in this way the children are kept at school, and 
are much more conveniently trained well." 

Subsequently he wrote that people made puns upon the 
name of German Town, calling it Armentown, because it lacked 
supplies so greatly, adding: 

"It could not be described, nor would it be believed by coming genera- 
tions, in what want and need, and with what Christian contentment 
and persistent industry, this German Township started." 

Thirty-three persons, composed what was termed the Cre- 
feld colony, under the leadership of Pastorius. As soon as lots 
were apportioned he opened what is called the "Gcrinantoivn 
Grtmd und Lager Buck," containing the records of all conveyances 
of land, and wrote above it a prefatory invocation, which Whittier 
translated from the Latin. (The translation of this poem will 
be found on page 43.") 

A fourteen year old boy, Israel Pemberton by name, has 
left us this glimpse of Pastorius, the man, under date of June 13, 
1698: "The first time I saw him, I told my father he would 
prove an angry master. He asked me why so. I told him I 
thought so by his nose, for which he called me a prating boy." 

Pastorius described himself as "of a melancholy, choleric 
temperament." His education fitted him to be a leader among 
men of his time ; he was thoroughly familiar with, and could 
write fluently, the Greek, Latin, German, French, Dutch, Eng- 
lish, Italian and Spanish languages. He was the author of seven 
published books, and at his death left forty-three in manuscript. 
A list of their titles is contained in the "Beehive," a large folio 
written and compiled by Pastorius himself for the benefit of 
his children, and which is a veritable cyclopedia of knowledge, 
mainly covering history, biography, religion, ethics and lan- 
guage. It also contains a collection of inscriptions, epitaphs, 
proverbs, poetry and enigmas, selected and original. The author 
remarks that his hive enclosed in 1676 about 2000 little honey 
combs. A characteristic letter reads thus : 



446 HISTORY OF OLD GBRMANTOWN 

"Dear Children, John Samuel and Henry Pastorius: Though you are 
of High Dutch parents, yet remember that your father was Naturalized 
and ye born in an English colony, Consequently each of you is an English- 
man by birth. Therefore, it would be a shame for you, if you should 
be ignorant of the English Tongue, the Tongue of your Countrymen; but 
that you may learn the better, I have left a book for you both, and com- 
mend same to your reiterated perusal. If you should not get much of 
the Latin, nevertheless read ye the English part oftentimes over and 
over. * * * For the Drippings of the house-eaves in time make a 
hole in a hard stone." 

Slavery, we learn, called forth a protest in earnest rhyme 
from Pastorius, and later, at a meeting of the Society of Friends, 
he signed the first formal protest against that institution. The 
little we know of his domestic life is to the effect that on 
November 25, 1688, he married, in Germantown, Anna Kloster- 
mann, daughter of Dr. Hendrich Klostermann, of the Duchy 
of Cleves. They had two children, John Samuel and Heinrich. 
Pastorius was occasionally attacked by a feeling of homesickness 
for his native land, but for the most part seems to have known 
content in his crude habitation. He was fond of his garden 
and of flowers, and took great interest in raising bees, saying, 
humorously, "Honey is money." 

He looked after the afi^airs of the Frankfort Land Company, 
in Germantown, tmtil the year 1700, without any compensation, 
and finally, in common with others, lost his land. He kept the 
records of the courts, compiled laws and ordinances, was bailiff 
of the borough when organized, served as Justice of the Peace, 
County Judge, and as a member of the Assembly from 1687 
to 1691. His own business was that of a conveyancer and no- 
tary, and during the last twenty years of his life he taught 
school. His primer, a single copy of which only exists at the 
present time, was the first original school book printed in Penn- 
sylvania. 

The modest house of Pastorius stood at what is now the 
junction of High Street and Germantown Avenue. A century 
later, in 1796, his grandson, Daniel Pastorius, erected just south 
of it a more pretentious mansion. The property of the First 
M. E. Church now occupies the site of these buildings. 

Pastorius died on February 27, 1719, and was buried in an 
unmarked grave, so that now none know where he lies. 

BEATRICE CLAYTON. 



FRIENDS' PREPARATIVE MEETING 

At the time of the "Separation," the Friends of Gennantown 
divided and a portion of them formed, in connection with the 
meeting at Frankford, a Preparative Meeting, which was called 
"A Preparative Meeting held at Frankford for Friends at Frank- 
ford and Germantown." The first meeting was held nth month, 
i6th, 1827, and in 1828 a plot of ground was purchased on 
School House Lane, Germantown. Abram Deaver, Joseph Live- 
zey, Samuel Mason, Jesse Walton, Robert Paiste, Samuel S. 
Griscom and Chalkley Gillingham were made trustees. Collec- 
tions were taken up among Friends and a Meeting House was 
erected. At that time, however, the people in this part of the 
country had a very small share of this world's goods. 

The Meeting House then built was used until 1855, when 
the lot of ground extending through to Greene street was pur- 
chased and a new building was erected. The land all around 
this section was very low, and our friend, John Wmder, was 
far-sighted enough to foresee that it would be filled in later on, 
so when the IV'Ieeting House was erected it was placed about 
six feet above the earth's surface. As the land about was grad- 
ually filled in, the surface of the earth became the bottom of 
the cellar. The floor of the porch is now but a step above the 
surface. It will be noticed that the stone wall at the rear of 
the graveyard is but a few feet in front of the Meeting House 
porch. This line was the end of the old property. 

The large maple trees on School House Lane and in front 
of the Meeting House were put there by John Hart, a man who 
was care-taker of the property for fifty years. He drove out 
past West Philadelphia to a nursery, a day's journey in those 
days, and brought a load of the young trees to Germantown, 
where he planted them. They are now large and healthy trees, 
and much superior to the ordinary maples which are now so 
plentiful. 

When the present Meeting House was built the other was 
used as a schoolhouse, although it was really not much larger 



448 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



than a good sized parlor. In 1876 the stone schooihouse on 
Greene Street was erected. 

The Preparative Meeting was held alternately at German- 
town and Frankford until Second month, 6th, 1877, when the 







Germantown Preparative Meeting was organized. The first 
meeting of this body was held on Fourth day, Third month, 14th, 
at 10 o'clock A. M. At this time the men and the women met 
separately, but on Fourth month, 14th, 1880, they held Prepara- 
tive Meeting in joint session. At this time Jonathan Jones and 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 449 

Almira R. Murphy were appointed clerks. A few years later, 
Amos Hilborn made a motion before the meeting that the parti- 
tion which separated the women's department from that of the 
men be removed, so, in 1884, that point was accomplished. 

In 1901 the school building was very much enlarged, in 
order that the school might have proper facilities to allow of the 
preparation of pupils for college. In 1905 the Hart property, 
on the corner of Greene Street and School House Lane, was pur- 
chased and fitted up for school purposes. 

WILBUR BIDDLE CONROW. 

October 15th, 1906. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR PHILIP R. FREAS 
Founder of the "Germantown Telegraph" 

The following sketch of the life of Major Freas was pub- 
lished in the "Germantown Independent,'' April loth, 1886, the 
material being furnished by his son, the late John A. Freas : 

At the age of sixteen years, Philip R. Freas left his home 
at ]\Iarble Hall, Montgomery County, where he was born Febru- 
ary 22d, 1809, and entered the office of the "Norristown Herald" 
as an apprentice to the printing business. The "Herald" was 
considered one of the most profitable country papers in the 
State, the net earnings derived from it being about $2000 annu- 
ally, which, at that time, was a large sum. Norristown had 
then a population of 1089; at present it contains nearly 25,000 
inhabitants. 

On the day that he reached his twenty-first year, February 
22d, 1830, he came to Germantown, and on the following 17th of 
March the first number of the "Telegraph" appeared. Before leav- 
ing the office of the "Herald," its proprietor, David Sower, Jr., 
proposed to sell him a one-half interest in that journal, but Mr. 
Freas thought that he could act more independently if he had a 
newspaper entirely under his own control, and decided to estab- 
lish one in Germantown, although he received encouragement 
from nobody here. He brought with him from Norristown the 
names of sixty subscribers, being about fifteeen more than the 
"Herald" had in that village. Of the 429 subscribers with which 
the "Telegraph" started, only three are known to be now living 
— Rev. John Rodney, Samuel Nice and Henry Freas. 

When the "Telegraph" was founded Germantown was a 
struggling village of 4634 inhabitants, and the sidewalks in 
numerous places along the Main Street were not paved, and 
many of the properties on this thoroughfare were enclosed by 
post-and-rail fences. Notwithstanding the small population of 
the place at that time, it maintained an infantry and a cavalrv 
company — the "Germantown Blues" and the "Germantown 
Troop." The latter was selected to escort Lafayette from Tren- 
ton to Philadelphia in September, 1824, notwithstanding the 



HISTORY OF OLD GERMANTOWN 



451 



efforts of many competing companies to obtain this honor, and 
mustered on that memorable occasion seventy-six men. It also 
subseciuently escorted Lafayette to the banks of the Wissa- 
hickon, in Montgomery County, where the American army tem- 
porarily encamped after the battle of Germantown, and on the 
return Lafayette and the troop were entertained at breakfast at 
Chew's house. A painting commemorates this interesting event. 




MAJOR PHILIP R. FREAS 



In 1835 Colonel Andrews, of the Army, who was sojourning 
in Germantown, noticing the methodical manner in which Mr. 
Freas attended to his business duties, offered him a one-half 
interest, free of expense, in an extensive tract of land which 
Colonel Andrews owned in the western village of Chicago if he 
would locate there permanently and from year to year sell por- 
tions of it with the anticipated growing demand for building 
lots. Pecuniarily the "Telegraph" had not been very successful 



452 HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 

up to that time, and he was on the point of accepting this hberal 
offer, but finally concluded to remain where he was. 

Although several public positions were offered Mr. Freas, 
the most important of which was that of Commissioner of Agri- 
culture, tendered by President Grant in 1870, he never accepted 
any, although on several occasions he was instrumental in get- 
ting positions for others. Under the Taylor administration, 
thirty-eight years ago, there was a great contest over the Post- 
mastership of the borough. The uptown people, who were 
largely in the majority, wanted Mr. Green appointed, who would 
have located the office nearly opposite the old railroad depot. 
Mr. Freas and many other downtown people desired ]\Ir. Wilson 
appointed, who lived in the house on the upper side of the en- 
trance to St. Luke's Church. Hundreds of letters had been sent 
to the Postmaster General by the friends of both parties, and 
the appointment of Mr. Green was anticipated, when Mr. Freas 
went quietly to Washington and asked Daniel Webster, Secre- 
tary of State, with whom he was acquainted, for a letter of intro- 
duction to the Postmaster General. He immediately wrote one, 
in which he stated that "anything Mr. Freas tells you can be 
depended on as being correct." The claims of Mr. Wilson were 
briefly mentioned, and twenty-four hours later the appointment 
was received. 

Mr. Freas conducted the "Telegraph" for a period of fifty- 
three years, four months and fourteen days. During a great por- 
tion of the last twenty years of this time he was an invalid, and 
was assisted in the management of the business by his son John. 
How much of the burden of successfully conducting the paper 
naturally fell upon his son, owing to the father's physical condi- 
tion, no one but those connected with the office can ever know 
rightly, 3'et, in writing a history of the "Telegraph," that his 
duties were onerous the candid writer must admit, and due 
credit should be given him. 

Major Freas, for a man of extensive acquaintance, was sin- 
gularly retiring. AVhen the "Independent" began to publish 
portraits of prominent men. we received requests from all parts 
of the State to give a portrait of the veteran journalist. We 
forwarded a number of letters to him, in company with a request 
for his permission to give such a sketch. In a letter received 
in reply he said : "I have noticed the great success of your pub- 



HISTORY OF OLD GERM AN TOWN 453 

lished portraits. Being on common printing paper, the like- 
nesses are remarkable, alike on the part of the artist and printer. 
* * * I have striven to avoid notoriety, having never, ex- 
cept in a single instance, assented to any mention made of me 
in any publication. I thank yon with all my heart for your 
proffered favor, and I am sure you can have no wish to do any- 
thing in regard to me personally of which I should so greatly 
disapprove." 

On the first of August, 1883, the "Telegraph" was sold to Mr. 
Henry W. Raymond, of New York, its present proprietor. In 
our last number the death of Major Freas in the fullness of years 
was announced. 

The funeral took place on Monday morning. The remains 
were laid in a casket of polished oak, with silver handles, and 
the lid, upon which was worked out a cross in the wood, con- 
tained a silver plate, with the name of the deceased and the date 
of his birth and death. Appropriate lioral designs were placed 
at each end of the casket, and an oil portrait of the deceased was 
placed at the head on a stand. The Rev. Samuel Upjohn, rector 
of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, conducted the services at the 
house and the grave. A number of relatives and friends attended 
the services at the house. The interment, which was private, 
took place at Laurel Hill Cemetery. The pall-bearers were : 
George W. Childs, Walter McJNIichael, George Blight, Edward 
Wright, Clayton McMichael, H. W. Raymond, Gibson Peacock, 
William Rotch Wister, Charles W. Otto, Jabez Gates, W. H. 
Bonsall and Horace F. McCann. 



INDEX 

VOLUME I 



Page 

Abercromby, Maria 221 

Act of abjuration 16 

Acuff, Capt. Frank 367, 368 

Adam,, Hartnian 38 

Adams, Hartman 103 

" Barbara 103 

Mathias 103 

" John 103 

Capt. Henry 202 

Robert 339 

Adamson, William 153, 161 

Agnew, General 172, 261, 403 

Albert, Rev. Dr. Luther E., 257, 273 

Alcorn, Sarah A 85 

Alcott, Louisa 70, 301 

" A. Bronson 301 

Allen, William 42 

" John 175 

" Benjamin 175 

Almanac, Saur's 62, 91, 250 

Alsentz, George 84, 402 

Alsence, Paxson 103 

America's debt to Dutch and 

Germans 17 

Amusements 127 

Anabaptists 25 

Andre, Major 264 

"Annsberry Farms" 15G 

Antes, Henry 226, 397 

Applen, G 178 

Apprentices indentures 47 

Apsley Street 149 

Arets, Lenert, 28, 37, 49,78,96,169, 

170, 214, 229. 
Armat, Thomas, 150, 291, 292, 308, 
322. 

" Thomas Wright 150 

Armat's Meadow 362 

Armbruster, Gotthard 436 

Armitage, Benjamin 78 

Armstrong, James 192 

Arnald, George 255 

Ashmead, Charles F 346 

House 80, 237, 309 

Mary 309 

" Capt. John S09 



Page 
Ashmead, William, 39, 58, 70, 
103, 302,311. 

Samuel 41,103 

Dr. William 175, 308 

Edward 210, 215 

John, 215, 301, 302,308, 
309, 331. 

Dr. Theodore 215 

Albert 301, 302, 352 

Anna 307 

Elizabeth Frey 307 

" James 308 

Ax, George 342 

Axe, Frederick 303, 304 

John Frederick 3C3 

Bachman 42 

Baisch, Jacob 287 

Baker, Hilarius 103 

See also Becker. 

Baker, Michael 214 

Ballantyne, Charles M 160 

" Alexander 364 

Banks, 

Of Germantown, 268, 272, 279, 

312, 337. 
Germantown Saving Fund... 311 

Of United States 312, 337, 338 

National of Germantown, 332, 337 

Of North America 338 

Of Pennsylvania 338 

Columbia 362 

Baptist Burying Ground 38 

Barclay, Harriet 221 

Barenstine, Mathias 42 

Barrett, Joseph 216 

Barron, Commodore James, 69, 201 

Bartells, Senwis 96 

Bartholomew, John 266 

Bartlett, Henry 34, 333 

Bastian, Christian 4Z 

Batavians 10 

Battle of Germantown, 

Bullet-riddled fence 56 

Description 108 

Howe's Headquarters .... 145, 306 



Page 

Dead at Loudoun 152 

Anecdotes of 158, 199 

Hospital at Mechlin-Wagner 

House 164 

Gen. Agnew buried 172 

Cannon ball found 279 

Virginia troops 316 

Baumann, W 78 

See also Bowman. 

Baumann, Peter 380 

Bayley, Richard 271,338,339 

"Baynton's" 215 

Baynton, Peter ". 215, 252, 255 

Bechtel House SO, 230, 231, 238 

Rev. John 230,238,239, 

317 394, 402. 

Mary A 234 

Beck, Martin 41, 103 

Becker, Hilarius 240 

Dr. Edwin J 240 

See also Baker. 

Beer, Price of 46 

" Regulation of quantity 

sold 46 

"Beggarstown" 73, 220, 253 

Beil, Henry 38, 103 

Beissel, Conrad 73, 249 

Bemeld 67 

Belitz, Lawrence 40 

Benezet, Anthony 78, 88 

John Stephen 318 

Bengel, Henry 103 

Benkert, Leonard 351 

George Felix 351 

Beninghousen, Bart W 103 

Bensel, Barbara 103 

Doctor George, 221, 254 
oil, 336, 338. 

Bensell House 332, 362 

Ned 254 

Hans George, 312, 332, 
334, 339. 

Dr. Charles. .331, 337,338 
Bensell, Elizabeth, Eliza, Ann, 

Mary, Engle, Sarah, 335, 337 

" George 335, 339 

" James 335 

Bensil, Charles 84, 103, 334, 339 

Benton, Stephen 352 

Hannah K 352 

Bentz, Joseph 368 

Bergentaller, Michael 103 

Bergman, George 103 

Berkley Street 149 



Pag-e 

Bethlehem 80, 113, 114, 237, 311 

Betton House 196 

Dr. Samuel 196 

Mary Forrest 197 

" Dr. Thomas F 197, 215 

Samuel 197, 200 

Bible, First printed in America 
21, 63. 
" Bradford's contemplat- 
ed edition 63 

Bickess, George 103 

Bidding, Lewis 103 

Biddis, William 40, 208, 213, 214 

" Catherine, Henry, 

Samuel, John, Margaret, 
208, 213. 

Biderman, Ludwig 74 

Billing, Samuel 335, 337 

Billmaier, Michael 65 

Billmeyer House 335 

Bingham, Mr 67 

Mrs 302 

Birch, William Y 161 

" Abraham 358 

Bird, Lieut.-Col. John, 172, 240, 403 

Blake, Edward 64 

Blattenback, Joseph 266 

Blickers, Johannes ...29, 34, 35, 42, 
96, 229. 

John 39,255 

Bockius, Philypine, Francis, 

Mary, Jacob 207 

" Samuel F., Morris R., 

Abraham R 208 

Joseph 212 

Christopher 240,286 

Jesse 283,286 

Godfrey, John, 39, 207, 282 

F. William 50, 208 

William R 175 

John M 190 

Edmund 190. 192 

Charles 194,301 

J. H 194 

Boehm, John Philip, activity of, 387 

Boggs, David 361 

Boisbrun, Stephen 336 

Bonn, Cornelius 38 

Bons, John 42 

See also Van Bon. 

Bonna, Peter 103 

Bonnell, John 191 

William 197 

Bonsell, Edward 198 



Book, John 281 

Books, Manufacture of 63 

Boswell, G 345 

Bowman, Jacob, 38, 103, 225, 238, 
239, 246, 336. 

John 38,41, 84 

" Wynant, Ann 72 

Charles , 85 

David 357 

See also Bauman. 

Boyd, Colonel 268 

Boyer, Elizabeth 103 

Hamilton 189 

Boys, John Dick 367 

Bradford, William 52, 63, 64 

Brandt, Albertus, Susannah. . . . 147 

Branson, Michael 37 

Bridges, 

Township Line, Reading R. 

R., Wingohocking 236 

Bringhurst Carriage Shop 220 

John, 37, 58, 70, 84, 22S, 
241, 302, 363. 

George 81, 103,307 

Charles S 175 

Samuel 212 

Thomas 223 

Robert 307 

William, Tudor R... 307 
"Big House,". . 223, 240 

School 85 

Brinton, Dr. D. B 156 

Bruner, David P 443 

Britton, William 329 

Brown, Moses, T. Wistar 252 

Ellet 304 

Brownholtz, Frederick 337 

Brunner, Henry 239, 352 

John 352 

Bucholtz, Henry 38,96, 99 

Budd, Thomas 54 

Bullock, Joseph 215 

Doctor 225 

Bunner, William 279 

John 273,279 

Burge, Samuel 276 

Burghers of Flanders and Hol- 
land, their influence ... 16 
Burt, May L., Clarissa, Eliza. . 336 
Burying Grounds, 

Moravian 235 

Mennonite at Kulpsville 267 

Dunker 354 

Ground exchanged 44, 319 



Page 
Upper (Concord), 41, 84,104,154, 

224, 227, 267. 
Lower (Hood), 104,169,224,227, 
267. 

Baptist 38 

Quaker 104, 271, 296 

Mennonite 104 

Private 104 

Logan 105,146 

DeBenneville 175, 403 

St. Stephen's M. E 218 

Busby's Mill 166 

Bush, Solomon 150 

Butcher, Samuel 190, 294 

John R 246 

"Butcher's Salve" 305 

Butler, Pierce, Fanny Kemble, 

Sarah 215 

Buttner, Ulric 103 

Rev. Gottlob 235 

Cadwallader, John 78 

Call to arms 83 

Calvin 14 

Campbell, St. G. T 50 

Campion, Annie M 85 

Cannon from the Augusta 328 

Carraher, Alexander 343 

Carlton 422 

Carpenter, Samuel 64, 77 

Mrs. George W. ... 152 

Edward 198 

" Conrad 339 

Carpets 124 

Carr, Sir Robert 75 

Carriages, Building of, 58, 70, 162, 
242, 301, 302, 307. 

Improvements in 58 

Scarce 113 

"Germantown" . 242 

Cars, First in Germantown. . . . 113 

Cart, Samuel 274 

Carter, Sarah 351 

Cassel, Arnold 34, 47 

Abraham H. ..250,268,427 
See also Kassell. 

Cassidy, Lewis C . 346 

Casdorp, Herman 38, 40, 42 

See also Kasdorp. 

Centennial, The 117, 153 

Chambers, C 182 

Channel, John 40 

Character of colonists 9 

Chardon, Anthony 209 



Page 

Charlemagne 11 

Chelten Avenue, East 3G7 

Cherry, Robert 357, 358 

Chew, Benjamin 41, 112 

Mansion 108 

Childs, Cephas G 240, 3G3 

Church, W. A 217 

Churches, First in Germantown 
72, 294. 

First Methodist 85, 304 

Dutch Reformed, IOC, 238, 313, 381 
St. Luke's Episcopal . . 151, 181, 288, 
313. 

Wakefield Presbyterian 152 

St. John the Baptist 181 

St. Stephen's M. E., 214,215,216, 

218. 
German Reformed, 2SS, 264, 304, 

313. 
Market Square Presbyterian, 313 

Trinity Lutheran 256 

First Presbyterian 362 

Citizenship, Cost of 46 

" Free granted .... 47 

Civil War 117 

Clarkson, Matthew 204 

Claypoole, James 29 

Clever, Peter 49, 96 

Clothing 120, 123, 125 

Clower, William L 355 

Clyme, Jacob C 235 

Clymer, Robert 40 

Coaches, see Carriages and 

Wagons. 
Coleman, Jacob 38, 39, 84, 103, 113, 
343. 

Colladay, James 303 

Collings, Elizabeth 38, 41 

Collom, Samuel H 278, 357 

Colonial Dames 135 

Concord School House 84 

Conrad, Tunis (Dennis ) 37, 39, 40, 
41, 96, 202. 

John 42 

See also Kunders, Cunrads, 
Cunrade, Cunrad, 72, 96, 202, 207 

Conrad, Henry C 202 

Consolidation with city 115 

Conyngham, Redmond, David H. 219 

Cook, Peter 42 

Cope, Alfred 296 

Coroner's Jury, The first.... 48, 49 

"Corvy" 211 

Corwell, William 254 



Pasi'e 

"Cottage Row" 272, 274, 276 

Coulson, Joseph 46,78,175 

Coulter, Susan W 163 

John, Ann 282 

Paschall H 325 

Council of Blood 15 

Court Records, Original. . .45 to 49 

Court Trial, First 48, 49 

Cox, Dr. George H. 150, 184, 190, 
194, 153. 

William K 190 

Bellangee 254 

Paul 344 

Craig, Mary 85 

Hugh 178 

Crawford, Samuel D 201 

Crease, Orlando 148 

Crefeld 36, 37 

Cresheim, No. of acres in 37 

School 85 

Cross Streets of Germantown. . 408 
Cross Street, — Fac-simile of 

grant to hold market on, 410 

Crout, William 364 

Crusades 12 

Culp, Daniel, Abraham 50 

Samuel 194 

Dallas, Alexander J Ill, 337 

Daniels, J 181 

Dannenhower, George. . .37, 170, 177 

Danenhower's Lane, Mill 192 

Dark Ages 11 

Darrow, George 364 

Dauber, Anna Mary 199 

Davis, Benjamin 340 

Deal, Peter, John, Jacob... .215, 219 
Deav, Isaac, Abram, Thomas... 42 
DeBenneville Graveyard. . . 175, 403 

De Braham, Wm. Gerhard 271 

Decatur, Commodore Stephen 

61, 202. 
Declaration of Independence, 

Dutch 16 

Dedier, John 40,164,192,199 

Jacob C 175 

William, Peter 176,246 

House 164.176 

See also Dittier. 

Delaney, Captain 264 

De la Plaine, James, 38, 40, 49, 78, 
103, 171, 227, 322, 356. 

" Sarah 331 

Ann 356 



